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Ancient English Metrical
Romances.
By JOSEPH RITSON,
AND REVISED BV
EDMUND GOLDSMID, F.R.H.S.
Vol. hi.
• ^a priscis memorata Catonibus atque Cetkegis
Nunc situs infonnis premit ac deserta vetustas.'"
- HORATIUS.
EDINBURGH :
E. & G. GOLDSMID.
1885.
This edition is li?iiited to zj'^ copies on demy %vo^ and 75 apies
{large paper) on demy \to paper.
V ^:
SIR ORPHEO.
This lay, or tale, being rather too concise to be denominated a
metrical romance, is a Gothick metamorphosis of the classical
episode of Orpheus and Eurydice, so beautifully related by Ovid.
It professes, like the tales of Mary of France, to be a lay of Britain,
(whether Great Britain or Armorica, has been already discussed) ;
and, if it have not so much merit as some others of these poetical
compositions, the most fastidious reader can scarcely complain of
its prolixity. There are two copies of this poem ; one, from which
it was transcribed, among the Harleian manuscripts, number 3810;
and another in the Auchinleck manuscript (W. 4. i. number lii), in
the Advocates' Library, Edinburgh : each more or less impeifect.
The latter, which omits the prologue, and commences abruptly,
" Orpheo was a ryche king,"
is much longer than the poem here printed, which seems abridged
from it, by considerable omissions, many of the remaining lines
being the same : but whether it be a translation from a French
original (which, at least, is sufficiently probable) there is no means
to ascertain. Another fragment in the same MS. (num. xxxv),
though upon a different subject, begins precisely like the Harleian
copy, but is entitled Lay le freine (the Tale of the Ash), and,
apparently, a version of Mary's poem under the same title.
Among the "pleysand storeis," enumerated in The Complaynt of
Scotland, 1549, is "Opheus, kyng of Portingal :" but whether the
name should have been Orpheus, and the story were the same, or
a different one, cannot be ascertained. "A tedious fable," according
to Pinkerton, "by [Robert] Henryson, with a spiritual moralization,"
of "Orpheus kyng, and how he ycid to hewyn and to hel to seik
his quene," was printed at Edinburgh by Walter Chepman, in
1508. In an old poem of "the laying of a gaist," quoted, by Mr.
Leyden, from the Bannatyne MS. the "gaist" is married to "the
Spenzie Hie,
And crownd him kyng of Kandclic ;
And thay gat them betwene
Orpheus king, and Elpha queue."
SIR ORPHEO.
Wc redyn oftc, and fyndc ywrytc,
As clerkes don us to wytc,
The layes that ben of harpyng
Ben yfound of frely thing ;
Sum ben of welc, and sum of wo,
And sum of joy, and merthe also.
Sum of bourdys, and sum of rybaudry,
And sum ther ben of the feyre ;
Sum of trechery, and sum of gyle,
And sum of happes that fallen by while. lo
Of alle thing that men may se
Moost to lowe forsothe they be.
In Brytayn this layes arne ywrytt,
Furst yfounde, and forthe ygete,
Of aventures that fillen by dayes,
Wherof Brytons made her layes.
When they myght owher heryn
Of aventures that ther weryn,
They tokc her harpys with game,
Maden layes, and yaf it name. 20
Of auntures that han befallc
Y can sum telle, but nought all.
Herken, lordynges, that ben trewe.
And y wol you telle of sir Orphewe.
Orpheo was a rye he kyng.
And in his tyme a grete lordyng :
Ful fayr man, and large therto.
And hende, curteis, and hardy also.
His fadrc was com of king Pluto,
And his modur cam of queue Juno,* 30
That in tyme wer goddys holden.
For wordys that they dcdyn and tolden^
The original passage of the Harley MS. reads thus :
" His fadre was com of sir Pilato,
And his modur cam of Yno ;
JncieJit English Metrkul Roma?iies
Orpheo most of ony thing
Lovede the gle of harpyng ;
Sykcr was every gode harpoure
Of hym to have moche honour.
Hymself loved for to harpe,
And layde thereon his wittes scharpe ;
He lerned so, ther non was
A better harper in no plas. 40
In the werld was never man born,
That onus Orpheo sat biforn.
And he myght of his harpyng her.
He shulde thinke that he wcr
In one of the joys of paradys,
Sache joy and melody in his harpyng is.
Orpheo sugerneth in Crasnes,*
That is a cyte of noble defens.
He hath a quene ful feyre of pris.
That is clcpyd dam Erodys, 50
The feyrest woman for the nonys
That myghth be made of flessche and bonys,
All hur here, and hur gode nes,
Myghth no man discryve hur fayrcnes.
Hit bifel in tymc of May,
That is mcry and lykyng the someris day
Awey ben the wynteris schouris,
And every felde is ful of flouris,
Of blosmes spryngyng on the bowc.
Over all the londe is mery ynowe, 60
That ilke quene, dame Erodys,
Toke with hur two maydenes of pris,
which do not accord so well with the following couplet,
" That in time were goddys holden,
For wordys that they dedyn and tolden,"
as those of the Edinburgh one ;
" His fader was comen of king Pluto,
And his moder of king [r. quene] yu 10." ^
* The corresponding lines of the Edinburgh copy are,
" This king sojourned in Tracem
That was a cite of noble defens,"
to which it adds,
"For Winchester was cleped tho
Traciens withouten no. "
Ancient English
And walked in the undertyde
To plcy in hur orchard-sydc.
To sc flourcs sprcde and spryng.
And sc and here the f'oulys syng.
They sctcn hem down all thre,
Fayr under an ympe-tre,
And wel sone the feyr quenc
Felled a slepe upon the grene. -o
The maydenes durst hur not awake.
But bysyde hur mery they can hem make,
And lete hur slepe tyl after none,
That the undertyde was agone ;
And, al so sone as sche can wake,
Sche cryed, and lothly can hur make,
She froted hur hondys and hur fete,
And cracchcd hur tyll that sche can bicde,
Hur ryche clothis sche can ter,
And was wode out of hur wit ther. Ko
The two maydenes that sat bysvde
Durst they non lengur abyde,
But went into the palys ryghth,
And tolde both squyer and knyghth.
That her queue awey wolde go.
Kynghths out went, and ladycs also.
And damsellis fyfty and mony mo.
To set her lady they thought to do.
Into the orchard they wer come.
And had hur up in armes ynome, 90
And brought hur in bed at the last.
And held hur in ryghth fast ;
But ever sche cryed with grcte mode,
And rent hursclf as sche wer wode.
When the kyng herd this tydyng.
He was never so wo for no thing.
The kyng com, with knyghthis kene.
Into the chamber to his quene.
And of hur had grete pytc :
Swete hcrt, he sayde, how may this be ? 100
That ever yet hast ben so styllc,
And now criest so loude and schrylle ;
Thy body, that was white biforn.
With thy nayles is al to-torn ;
Metrical Romances.
Alas! thy rode that was so rede
Is as wan as ony ledc.
Also thy fingris smalle.
They ben al blody and palle.
Alas ! thy lovely yyen two
Loken on me as man on so. i lo
Leve dam, y beseche the mercy,
Lete be al this ruful cry.
And tel me what thing and how
Yif onv thing may help the now.
The lady still es at the last,
And gan to wepe swythe fast,
Tho sche sayde the kyng to,
Alas ! my lord, syr Orpheo,
Seth we togedur were
Never yit wroth we ner, 1 20
Ever yit thou hast loved me.
With alle myn hert so have y the ;
And now we schul part atwo.
Do thy best, for ye most go.
Alas ! he seyde, forlorn y am,
Whidur wol thou go and to wham ?
Wher thou comest thou schalt with me,
Whidur thou gost y whl with thee.
Sir, sche seyde, it may not be this,
I schal you telle how it is : 130
As y lay this undertyde.
To slepe under the orchard-syde,
Ther com to me two fair knyghtes,
Wele arayde at alle ryghthis.
And bade me come, without lettyng.
To speke with her lord the kyng ;
And y answerde with wordis bolde
That y ne durst, ne y nolde :
Fast agayn they can dryvc,
Then com her kyng al so blyve * 14.0
* This monarch, (who is anonymous), it appears frcm a subsequent verse was
' kyng of Fayre," his attendants are numerous, his riches and magnificence immense;
and such fair knights, as the thousand and more who accompanied him, Erodvs had
never seen : no notice, therefore, being taken of their verdant vesture, or diminutive
size, the characteristics of English fairies, it miy be fairlv concluded that the poem
Ancient English
With a thousand knyccs and mo,
And with layes f'yfty also,
And ryden al on snow-white stedys,
And also white was her wedys
Y sey never seth y was borne
So feyr knygtes me byforne.
The kyng had a crowne on his hedc,
It was no selver, ne golde rede.
All it was of precious stone,
As bryght as sunne forsothe it schone. 150
Al so sone he to me cam,
Wold y, neld ye, he me nam.
And made me with him ryde.
On a whyte palfrey by his syde.
And brought me in to his palys,
Ryght wele ydight over al y wys.
He schewed me castels and touris,
Medewys, ryveres, feldys, and floures,
And his forestes everyche one ;
And seth he brought [me] ayen home^ 160
Into our own orcharde.
And sayde to me this afterwarde :
Loke to-morew that thou be
Here under thisympe-tre ;
And yif thou makest ony lette.
Wherever thou be thou schalt be set,
And to-tore thy lymes alle.
That no thing the help schalle.
And, thaugh thou be so to-tore,
Yit schalt thou awey be bore. 170
When the kyng herdc this case.
Out ! he seyde, and alase !
Me were lever to lese my lyfe,
Than to lese the quene my wyfc !
He axed consel of many of man.
But non of hem help hym can.
w;is not invented or conposed in this country ; the fairies of the French and Italian
romances being essentially distinct, and, in fact, generally females endowed with
singular beauty and supernatural powers. Sec an account of this sort of fairy in the
roman cCO^kr le I\moh, nr that of IIwji: </r Bordeaux, of which there is an English
version.
Metrical Romances.
On the morewe, when tyme came.
The kyng his armes forsoth he name,
And two hundred knyghtes with hym,
Wele yarmed stout and grym ; i8q.
With the quene went he,
Into the orchard, under the tre,
Ther made they watche on every syde,
And cast hem there for to byde.
And sufFre deth everychon
Er sche schulde from hem gon :
And there anon withouten lette
Among hem all scho was yset,
Awey with the feyre sche was ynome,
Wist non of hem wher scho become. 190
Ther was ther wepyng and cryeng also.
The king to his chamber can go.
And fel adown on the stone,
He made grete dele and meche mone ;
Wei nye he hed hymself yschent,
He sygh ther was no amendement.
He sende after erle and baroun,
And other lordys of grete renoun ;
And, whan they togcder were,
Lordys, he seyde, that ben here, 200
Y ordeyne my steward of myn halle
To kepe my londys overalle.
Now y have my quene forlore,
The best lady that ever was bore ;
Y wol never efce woman se,
In wyldernes now wol y be,
And wonne there in holtys here
In wyldernes for evermore.
When ye wyte y am of the world went
Make ye all a parlement, 210
And do chese you a new kyng,
And do your best in al thing.
Ther was grete sorewe in the halle,
Wepyng and cryeng among hem alle ;
Ther ne myght olde ne yonge
For wepyng spcke a worde with tongc.
They knelyd all adown in fer,
And besought hym, yif his wil vver,
B
lo Ayicient English
That he ne wolde from hem go.
Do wey ! he seyde, y wil not so. 220
Alle his kyndam he forsoke,
And to hira a sclaveyn anon he toke ;
He ne wolde have non hode,
Hose, ne scho, ne other gode ;
But his harpe he gan take.
And went barfot out at the gate :
Ther most no man with hym go,
Alas ! ther was wepyng and wo.
He that was kyng, and bar the crowne,
Went so porely out of towne, 230
Into wildernes he gethe,
Bothe throw wode and throw hethe.
Now he is naught at ese,
But now he is at male-ese ;
Now in hard wode he lythe.
With erbis and gras he hym wrythe.
He that had grete plente.
Mete, drynke, and grete dignyte,
Now he most bothe digge and wrote,
Er he have his fille of rote. 240
In somer he lyveth by hawys,
That on hauthorne growth by schawys ;
And in wynter by rote and rynde.
For other thing may he non fynde.
His body was awey dryve.
With hayle and reyne al to-ryve.
No man coudc telle of his sore
That he sufFred ten yere and more
He that had castel and toure.
Forest, fryth, bothe felde and flour, 250
Now hath he nothing that him lyketh.
But wylde bcstes that by hym stryketh :
The here of his hede is blak and row,
Benethe his gurdel it ys ygrow.
He taketh his harpe, and maketh hym gle.
And lythe al nyght under a tre.
When the wedcr is cler and bryght.
He taketh his harpe anone ryght.
Into the wode it ryngeth schrylle,
As he coudc harpe at his wille. 260
Metrical Romances.
The wilde bestes that ther bethe,
For joy about hyra they gethe ;
All the foulis that ther were,
They comyn aboute hym there,
To her harpvng that was fyne.
So mechel joy was therine.
When he the harpyng leve wolde,
Foule, ne best, abyde ther nolde,
But went hem albydene.
And lete hyra alone ther bene. zjo
Ofte he saw hym bysyde
In the hote somer-tyde,
The kyng of Fayre,* with his route,
Com to hunte all aboute.
With dunnyng and with blowyng.
And houndys gret cryeng ;
But forsothe no best they nome,
Ne he ne wyst wher they becom ;
And other while he myght yse
A grete ost by him te, 280
Wei a two hundreth knyghtes,
Wele yarmed at all ryghtes.
Sum while he saw other thing,
Knyghtes and ladies com rydyng
In bryght atyre and disgysid.
With esy pace pace and wele avysed,
Taberis and pypes yeden hem by
And alle maner of mynstrelsy ;
And ladyes ther com rydyng,
Joly they wer in alle thing ; 290
Jentle and jolef, forsothe, y wys.
No man among hem ther nys.
Every on an hauke on honde bere.
And went haukyng by the ryvere,
Of game they fonde grete haunt,
Fesaunt, heron, and cormerant.
The foules out of the rever flowe.
Every faukun his game slowe.
* In Chaucer's Marchames Tale he speaks of
"Pluto, that is the king of Faerie." —{V. loioi.)
12 Ancient English
That saw kyng Orpheo, and lowe.
As he stode under a bowe : 3°°
Perfay, he sayde, ther is gode game,
Thider* y wil in goddis name.
Such game he was wont to se,
Up he ros, and thider cam he ;
To his owne lady wel nigh he comc,t
And hur wel ny had undernome ;
He knew hur by the semelant, y wys,
His owe lady, dam Erodysse :
But ther myght non with other speke.
Then sche hym knewe, and he hur eke. 310
For myssis that she on hym sye.
That sura tyme was bothe ryche and hie,
The teris ran doun by hur yghe,
So dede of hym when he hur sye.
They made hur awey there ryde,
For ther myght sche no lenger abyde.
Alas ! he seyde, that me is wo !
Why nyl deth rayn hert slo?
Alas ! wrecche that y ne myght
Dye anon after this syght ! 320
Alas ! to long lasted my lyfe,
That y ne may speke with my wyfe !
Ne sche with me a worde to speke!
Alas! why nyl myn hert breke'
Perfay, he sayde, [tide what bitide]
Y wil se whyder this ladies ride.
In that wey wyl y go
For of my lyf yeve y not a slo ;
His sclaveyn dede he on his bak.
And toke his harpe ryght as he spak. 330
Fast after hem he can gone
Over stok and over stone.
In then at the roche the ladies ryde,
He went sone after, he nolde not bydc.
When he was into the roche ygo,
Wele thre myle, and sum dele mo.
He cam to a feyr contray,
Was as bryght as ony day ;
Original reading : Thidey. -j- Original reading : Came.
Metrical Romances. 1 3
Feyr palys, and alle grene,
Hille ne dale was nought sene. 340
Amyd the launde a castel he sye,
Noble and ryche, ryght wonder hie,
And al the overyst walle
Schene as doth the crystal ;
Fayr tours ther wer aboute,
Gayly set with perles stoute ;
The utmest that stode on the dyche
Was of golde and selver ryche ;
The front that was amyd all
Was of dyvers metalle; 350
Within were wyde wonys.
Of golde, selver and precious stones,
Feyr pilers theron were dyght
Of precious stones and safyres bryght.
Hit schone so fayr by nyght
That al the towne thereof was lyght.
The ryche stones schone so cun,
Al so bryght as ony sun.
No man myght telle, ne thinke in thought,
The ryches that therein was wrought. 360
At the castel the ladies alyght,
Orpheo went after as fast as he myght.
Orpheo knocked at the gate.
The porter was redy therate,
And asked, What wilt thou so?
" Perfay, y am a mynstrallo,*
To solas the with my gle.
The merier schalt thou be."
He unded the gate anone.
And lete hym into the castel gone. 370
Orpheo loked about over all,
He saw folk sit under the wall ;
Sum that were thydcr ybrought,
Al dede were they nought:
Amonge hem lay his owne wyfe.
That he loved as his lyfe ;
* Thus, in the Auchinleck. copy :
" And asked what he wold have ydo,
Parfay, qiiath he, icham a minstrel /c"
The Harley MS. reads jo, in the first line.
H
Ancient English
Sche lay under ane ympe-tre,
By her glowcs he vvyst it was sche.
He went forthe into the halle,
Therin was grete joye with allc. 380
The ryche kyng therin sette,
He fyl on knees, and hym grette.
By hym sete a quene bryght,
Unnethis he had of hur a syght.
When he had yscne al thing,
He fel on knees byfore the kyng,
And besought hym yif his wil were
That he wolde of his mynstrelsy her.
Then saydc the kyng, What art thow,
That art hyder ycom nowe .'' 390
Myself, ne non that is within me.
Never sende afther the.
Seth y this kyngdam fuest bygan
Fonde y non so hardy a man
That hider durst come ne wende,
But that y aftur hym sende.
Sir, he sayde, y trowe ful wele,
Y holde it soth, sir, every dele.
For sothe it is the maner of us
To come to every lordys hous, 400
And though we nought welcome be,
Yit we most profer our game or gle.
Byfore the kyng he set hym downe.
And tok his harpe of mery sowne.
And, as he ful wel can.
Many mery notys he began.
The kyng beheld and sat ful stylle.
To here his harpyng he had gode will.
When he left of his harpeng.
To hym seyde that ryche kyng, 410
Mynstrcl, me lyketh ryght wele thy gle.
What thing that thou aske of me
Largely y wol the pay,
Therfor, aske now and asay.
Lord, he sayde, y pray the,
Yif it your wyl be,
Yif me that lady bryght of ble
That lythe yonde under the ympe tre.
Metrical Romances.
Nay, he seyde, as it nought ner.
[A sori couple of you it were] 420
For thou art row and blake,
And sche is made withouten lak.
A foule couple it wer forthy
To lete hur com in thy company.
Lord, he seyde, ryche kyng,
Yit hit wer a fouler thing
To here a lesyng of thy mouthe.
To me as thou saydest nouthe.
That y schulde have what y wolde ?
A kyngis worde most nede be holde. 430
Thou sayst soth, sayd the kyng than,
Forsothe thou art a trewe man.
y wol wel that it be so ;
Take hur by the honde, and go ;
Y wol that thou of hur be blythe :
And he hym thanked mony a sythe.
He toke hur by the honde anon
With ryght gode wille they can out gon.
Fast he went out of that stede,
Ryghth as he came out he yede. 440
So long they have undernome,
That to Crassens they were ycome.
That sum tyme was her owne cete,
But no man wyst they weren he ,
With a begger of poor lyfe
He herbored hym and his wyfe ;
He asked tydynges of the londe.
And who then had the kyndam in honde.
The por begger, in his cote.
Anon tolde hym every grote, 450
How the qwene was fet away
Of the londe, forsothe to say,
And how the kyng aftur them yede.
No man wyst into what stede ;
And now the stewarde the kyngdam doth holde ;
Mony tydynges he hym them tolde.
A morewe at the none-tyde
He made the quene there abyde.
He toke his harpe ryght anon,
Into the towne he can gon. 460
1 6 Ancient EngFtsh
His owne steward he can mete
As he cam by the strete.
He set hym doun on his knc,
And sayde, Lord, help for charytc !
Y am a por mynstrel * of Hethenes,
Helpe me, lord, at this dystres !
The steward sayde, With me com home.
Of my gode thou schalt have somme ;
For my lordys love, Syr Orpheo,
Al mynstrellys ben welcom me to. 470
Anone they wcnte into the halle.
The steward and the lordys all ;
The steward waschcd and went to mete,
And all lordys weren ysete.
Ther was merthe in halle
When Orpheo sat within the wall.
When they weren all stylle.
He toke his harpe that was schille
And pleyde fast with the gle.
The stewarde loked, and cam to se 480
And knewe the harpe wel blyve ;
Mynstrel, he seyde, as thou most thryve,
Wher had thou that harpe, and howe?
Tel me now, syr, for thy prowe.
Lord, he seyde, in unkouthe londe,
By a forest y hit ther fonde ;
Y sygh a man draw ful smale,
It lay by hym in a dale :
Now it is ten wyntcr agone.
Alas! seyde the steward, and made grete mone, 490
Hit was my lord, syr Orpheo,
Alas ! that ever he yede us fro.
The kyng behelde the steward than,
And wyst he was a trewe man ;
To hym he seyde, without lesyng,
Syr, he seyde, y am Orpheo the kyng.
Here, at the townis ennde,
Y have brought my lady hende.
The lordys sterten up anon.
And maden hym to chamber gon, 500
* Original reading : Mystrel.
Metrical Romances. i y
With merthe, joy, and processioun,
They fet the quene into the towne :
Ther they lyved gode lyfe afterwarde,
And sythe was the kyng stewardc.
Thus cam they out of care :
God geve us grace wele to fare !
And all that have herde this talkyng
In heven blys be his wonyng !
Amen, amen, for charyte,
Lord us graunt that it so be ! * 510
The Edinburgh copy ends thus :
" Now king Orpheo coround is,
And his quen dame Heurodis j
And lived long afterward,
And seththen was king the steward.
Harpours in Bretain after than
Herd how this mervail bigan,
And made her of a lay of gode likeing
And nempned it after the king ;
That lay Orfeo is yhote,
Gode is the lay, swete is the note.
Thus com sir Orfeo out of his care :
God graunt ous al wele to fare."
CHRONICLE OF ENGLAND
»>-SiHo
Of this old metrical chronicle, transcribed from a manuscript
of the Royal Library (12 CXII) there is another copy in that of
the Faculty of Advocates, already noticed, to which are prefixed
the following lines by way of title :
"Here may men read, who co can,
How Inglond first bigan ;
Then mow it find in Englische,
As the Brout it telleth y wis."
At the end is " Explicit liber regum ArtgUt^T
There can be no doubt that this and similar chronicles were
composed for the purpose of being sung in public to the harp.
"Our modern ballads," according to Hearne, "are for the most part,
romantick; but the old ones contain matters of fact, and were
generally written by good scholars. . . They were a sort of
chronicles. So that the wise founder of New-college permitted
them to be sung, by the fellows and scholars of that college, upon
extraordinary days." (Appendix to Hemingi Chartularium, P. 662.)
He refers, for the last fact, to " Statuta Coll. Noz-i, Rubric
XVIII :" the words of which statute, as given by Warton,
are as follows : '•'■ ^ando ob dei reverentiam aut sua matris, vel
alterius sa?!cti cujuscunque, tempore yetnali, ignis in aula sociis ministratur;
tunc scholaribus et sociis post tempus prandii aut cena, liceat, gracia
recrcationis^ in aula, in cantilenis et aliis solaciis honest is, moratn facer e
condecentem ; et poemata, rcgnorura chronicas, et mundi hujus mirabilia
ac cetera quce statum clericalem condecorant, seriosius pertractare." (History
of English Poetry, I, 92.) "The latter part of this injunction,"
he adds, " seems to be an explication of the former : and on the
whole it appears that the cantilena which the scholars should sing
on these occasions, were a sort of poemata, or poetical chronicles,
containing general histories of kingdoms." " The same thing,"
he says, "is enjoined in the statutes of Winchester college ;" was
Ancient English Metrical Ron:ances.
afterwards "adopted into the statutes of Magdalen college;" and
from thence, if he recollects right, " copyed into those of Corpus
Christi, Oxford-" {Ibi. 93.)
The practice of delivering oral history appears, in fact, to be of
much greater antiquity, and, if not of the Saxon times, cannot be
much later. Matthew Paris, in his legend of OfFa the first, says
that King Warmund, his father, is celebrated with the chief praise
of commendation by those who had used histories of the Eagles,
not only to utter by relation, but also to insert in writings. (P, 961 ,)
Even Robert of Brunne, though he professes to have
''mad noght for no disours,
Ne for no seggers no harpours,"
says, at the same time,
'' And therfore for the comanalte
That blythely wild listen to me.
On light lange i it began
For luf of the lewed roan ;"
and concludes his prologue by affirming, that he
" Did it wryte for felawes sake,
When thai wild solace make ;"
that is, as Mr. Warton properly explains it, " he intended his
chronicle to be sung, at least by parts, at public festivals,"
Another poem of the same nature may be found in Hearne's
appendix to Robert of Gloucester's Chronicle (P. 505), in the
glossary to which work (P. 731) he introduces an extract from the
fragment of a similar performance.
The present bears internal evidence of having been composed
in the reign of Edward the second ; and that the manuscript itself
is of the same age seems no less certain. The hand is apparently
that of a Norman law scribe, and bears the closest resemblance to
that of the Harleian MS. 2253, which contains King Horn, &c.
CHRONICLE OF ENGLAND.
Herkneth hidcward, lordyngcs,
Ye that wolleth here of kynges :
Ant ye mowen hcren anon
Hou Engelondc furst bigon ;
This philosofres us doth to-wyte,
Ase we findeth yvvryte.
This lond was cleped Albyon,
Er then Bruyt from Troye com,
A thousent ant tuo hondred yer
Erthen Marie Crist ber. lo
A muche mon com from Troy, y wis,
Wes icleped Bruyt Sylvius,
A muche mon com with him also,
Corineus yclepud wes tho.
In thilke time, in al this londe,
Om aker-lond ther nes yfounde
Ne toun ne houses never on
Erthen Bruyt from Troye com ;
Ah al wes wode ant wildcrnesse,
Nes ther no tilthe, more ne lesse. 20
Geauntz her wonede suythe stronge.
That were bothe grete ant longe ;
Geomagog hatte here kyng.
Me nuste no wer ys evenyng ;
He wes of suythe wonder streynthe,
Ant fourti fithe hade the leynthe
From the elbowe to the hond.
Ant tuenti on brede on him me fond.
In grete hulles hy woneden her.
Ant livede by herbes ant wilde duer, 30
Mylk ant water, hy dronke nout elles,
Ase the boc hyt saithe ant telles.
Schep he heden ase hors gret,
That beren wolle ase her of get,
Therof hy maden hem sclavyns,
Ase palmers that bcth paynyms.
Ancient English Metrical Rornanees.
Tho Bruyt com this lond to wynne,
The geauntz that ther woneden ynne,
Tho hy herden of Brutes come,
Ham byradden alle ant some 40
To yeven hem bataille anon,
Ant to slen hem everuchon.
The Troyens were suythe kene,
Ant that wes ther wel ascne.
The geauntz heo overcome.
Ant heore grete kyng he nome,
Geomagog that wes so strong,
Ant so wonderliche long.
Corineus the champioun,
That with Bruyt from Troye com, 50
Seh Geomagog so sturne,
Ant desirede suithe yurne
To wrastle wyth that foule thing.
That wes the geaundene kyng.
Ant of Bruyt he bad the bone.
Ant he him grauntede suithe sone.
Corineus anon forth schet.
To the kyng that wes so gret,
Al day togedere hy wrastly conne,
Forto hem faylede light of sonne, 60
The kyng wes a teoned stronge
That Corineus astod so longe,
Ant so harde he him tuaste.
That thre ribbes in him to-braste.
Bruyt byhueld Corineus,
Ant to him he seide thus,
Corineus, wet dest thou nouthe ?
Nes ner by northe, ne by southe,
Ne by water, ne by londe,
Er then non thi piere yfonde ; 70
And yef the word of the sprongc
That eny mon the stode so longc,
Geaunt, other champioun,
Al thyn honour were leid adoun,
Ant nomelichc to thy lemmon,
That ys wyttorc then the fom.
Tho Corineus underyat
That Bruyt of ys lemmon spac,
22 Ancient English
Of Erneburh that maide hende,
To Geomagog he con wende, 80
Ant him puttc with such streynthc,
Thah he were more thon he of Icinthc,
That fourti fet, roumede and grete,
Into the sec he made him lepe.
Tho the geauntz were overcome,
Ant Bruyt hade this londe ynome,
Corineus lovcde the more
Al that contrey tharefore,
Ant clepede hit for that batayle
After Corineus Cornwayle, 90
Bruyt hade muche folk with him,
Bothe fremede and eke kun.
That wer erthe-tilyes gode,
Hy faleweden erthe, ant feolden wode.
Ant of this lond that wes so wylde
Hy bygonne tonnes to bulde ;
Londone he made furst with gome.
Ant yef hit his oune nome,
Newe Troye, for he com
Furst from Troye and hit bygon, 100
In his time, withoute les,
Elye the prophete ichose wes,
The children of Yrael bi dai ant nith.
The laghe techen hem ariht.
The laghe he tahte hem ych wene.
On hem therafter hit wes sene.
Bruyt had thre sones.
That were suythe feyre gomes.
That on wes hote Lokeryn,
He reignede after his fader fyn. 1 10
Cambroun hatte that other,
He wes the mydleste brother.
He was ybore in Deveneschire,
Of Wales he wes makcd sire.
Albanactus the thridde iclepud wes,
Scotland to ys part he chcs,
Ant tharefore, ase ryth ys,
Al that Bretaygne iclepud ys.
He reignede her
Other half-houndrcd yer, 120
Metrical Romances. 23
At Westmustre he was ded.
Ant yburied, for so he bed.
Tho anon, after hym,
Revgnede his sone Lokcryn ;
Crafti mon for sothe he wes.
He wrohte her, withoute les,
Tuo merveilles grete, y wys,
Wrokynghole that on clepud ys
Sikerlich withoute gyle,
Biside Glastingbury a myle; 130
A chapele that other ys,
That over the erthe hongeth thus.
From the erthe tuenti fet.
The leynthe for sothe last yet.
Of seynt Susanne, wythoute les,
The chapele ycleped wes.
He reignede her
An hondred wynter and tuo yer.
After hym reignede Eboras,
That suithe wis and crafti was ; 14.0
He wes Lokerynes sone,
Everwyk wes his meste wone.
Ant he Everwik made and met,
More than Londone by seve stret,
Alklud and Maydenescastel bo.
Ant Mound de le Rous he made also :
Ant tho David and his teem
Reigneden in Jerusaleem.
After hym Lud-Hudybras,
So Eboras sone ycleped was, 150
Hade this londe everuch del,
Ant hyt yemede suythe wel ;
He made Caunterbury anon.
Ant other tounes moni on,
Wynchestre and Schaftesburye,
Ther spac an ern a prophecie,
Thre dawes and thre nyht,
The prophecie he tolde riht :
Wet in Englond schulde byfalle.
That ther weren hit hcrden allc. i6o
Lud, that ichabbe of ytold.
He wes kyng suythe bold,
24 Ancient English
To bulden he nevede gode wate,
At Londone he made a yate,
Ant clepede hit, arter ys nome,
Ludgate, al with gome.
After thillce kyng Lud
Reignede his sone Bladud ;
He wes clerk of nigremancie,
That ys an an art of gret maistrie ; 17°
He made the wonder, ful y wis
That hote bathe ycleped ys.
Herkneth allc that bcth hende,
Ant y schal telle, ord and ende,
The rihte sothe, ful y wys,
Hou hote bathe ymaked ys :
Four tonnes* ther beoth of bras,
Al for sothe thus hit was,
Feole thinges ther beth ynne,
Craftilich ymad with gynne, 180
Ouic brimston and other alsuo.
With wylde fur ymad therto,
Selgemme and salpetre,
Salarmoniac ther ys eke,
Salnitre that ys briht :
Berneth bothe day and nyth.
This ys in the tonnes ydon.
Ant other thinges moni on :
Berneth bothe nyht and day.
Ah never quenchen hit ne may. 190
In four sprungcs the tonnes liggcth,
Ase this philosofres suggeth.
The hete withynne, water withoute,
Maketh hot al aboutc.
The tuo sprunges urneth yfere.
Ah the other tuo beth more clere ;
Therof ys maked, ful y wys.
That kyngesbathe ycleped ys.
* The fragment of this chronicle printed by Selden, in a note upon the third song
of Drayton's Poly-Olb'wn, reads.
Two tunne, &c."
nnd contains other slight variations in almost every line. It does not appear whence
hv had it.
Metrical Romances. 25
Thilke maister Bladud,
That wes kyngessone Lud, 200
Tho he this ilke bathe made.
Ant he eny defaute hade
Of thinges that ther schulde to,
Herkneth hou he wolde do ;
From Bathe to Londone he wolde fleo,
Ant thilke dai self aycvn teo,
Ant vacche that therto byfel,
He wes quic and suithe snel.
Tho thes maister was ded,
Anon he wende to the qued, 210
For Crist nas nout yet ybore,
Ne deth ne sofFrede him nout fore.
After Bladud wes heir
Ys oune sone, that hatte Leyr,
He made Leircestre with gome.
Ant yef hit ys oune nome.
After him reignede his sone bold,
That wes icleped Denewold,
He made Malmssbury,
Lacok and Tettesbury, 220
Ant Devises also.
And other tounes fele mo.
Tueye sones he hade thenne,
That on Belyns, that other Brenne,
Hy weren men of chevalerie,i
Hy wonne Fraunce and Normaundie,
Ant tha lond suithe sone
From Fraunce that come to Rome,
Thilke Belyns and Brenne
Made four weycs thenne, 230
Thourh the grace of godes sonde,
Thourh-out all Engelonde.
That on to thisse daye yet
Ys ycleped Wateling-stret.
That other ys icleped Fosse,
Geth from Cornwaille into Scosse,
A laundc in Scotlond of gret prys,
In al that lond feirore ther nys.
Ykcnild-stret ther beoth thrc ;
OfFedich the furthc wol be. 24.0
D
z6 jimient Eiiglnh
After him com a muche mon,
Was yclcped Cassabalon,
A wis kyn and a war,
He ca?te Julius Cesar,
That was empcrour cf Rome,
Out thisse lond sonc,
Ant tuye him overcom.
Ant at the thridde time Cesar him nom.
Ant the Cassabalon was overcome,
He yef gret truage to Rome, 250
Thre hondred pound by yer,
Er he moste be quite and sker;
That were sixti yer by score
Er then Crist were ybore.
After him Uther-Pendragoun
Hade his londe al and som,
He won to ys hond
Englond, Wales, and Scotlond ;
He reignede thritti yer,
To Glastinbury me him bcr. 260
After him his sone Arthur
Hevede this lond thourh and thourh ;
He was the beste kyng at nede,
That ever mihtc ride on stcde.
Other wepne welde, other folk out-lede,
Of mon ne hede he never drede.
He ne com never in none londe.
That he ne hede the heire honde.
Ther nes never such king bifore,
Ne non ne byht ther nevermore. 270
Whyl kyng Arthur wes alyve
In Bretaigne wes chyv-aleric,
Ant the in Bretaigne were yfonde
This gret aventures, ichonderstonde.
That ye habbeth yherd her this
Ofte sithes, and soth hit ys.
Wyth kyng Arthur wes a knyht,
Wei ychot Ewcyn he hyht,
Ther nes mon in al the londe
That durstc in fith ayein him stoude, 280
This kyng Arthur, as ich er tolde.
He wes kyng suithc bold,
Metrical Romances, 27
He won Engelond suithe sone.
Out of the truage of Rome,
Ant Luces the emperour, sauntz fayle,
He overcom in bataille.
He get, thourh his chevalerie,
Fraunce that come to Lumbardie,
Ant Rome he wolde han ynione,
Ant tho the tidinge him wes icome, 290
That Moddred hys cosyn
Englond wolde bynymen him.
Ant hede yleye by the quene,
Genevre, that wes bryth and schene.
That wes kyng Arthures wyf,
That he lovede so ys lyf.
Ase sone ase Arthur the kyng
Hede herd this tiding.
To Engelond he turnde ayein,
Bothe with knyth and with sueyn, 300
Ant Engelond hath ynome y wys,
Ant halt hit ase rith ys.
After thon he livede ten yer.
To Glastingbury me him ber :
God almihti, that best may,
Yeve him reste nyth and day !
Ther after tuo and twenti yer,
Efter that Marie Crist ber,
Eleutherie, the pope of Rome,
Stablede suithe sone 310
Godes werkes wurthe,
Ant singe in holy chirche,
Gloria i?i exelsis deo,
Ant yef gret pardon therto.
After thon, ichonderstondc,
Lucius brohtt into Engelonde
Cristendome, griht, and pees.
From the pope Eleutherics.
Thilke Lucius, thourh godes sonde,
Made thre archebischopes in is londe, 320
Ant twenty-sevyn he made also
Leod bischopes therto.
That was to-fore the come of seint Austin her
Four hondred and ahte and fourti yer.
28 Ander.t English
Dioclicien thilke time
Dude cristendome much pine ;
In thilke time scint Albon
For godcs love tholede martirdom.
Kyng Fortigcr, wyth schomc and schondc,
Wes driven out of Engelondc. 33<^
Thourh Hcngistus, for soth y wys.
That made the tresoun, for thus hit ys :
At Stonhenges, wite ou wel,
Ther he hit made everuch del,
For Merlyn hem saide biforenhond
He ne schulde ner dure en Englond.
Rowenne, that was so feir may,
Furste saide, by this day,
To kyng Fortigcr, Wassail ;
Ant that onsuere wes, Drinkhail. 340
Seththe anon, sone and suithe,
Wes Engelond deled on fyve,
To vyf kynges treweliche
That were suithe riche.
That on hade to his partie
That lond of Kent that is so druye.
Ant tueie bischopes in ys lond,
Wel hy were bcync yfond ;
The erchebischop of Caunterbury,
Ant of Roucestre, that ys mury. 350
The kyng of Esex wes riche mon,
He hade to ys portion
Wylteschire, Barkschyre,
Southsex, Southanteschyre,
Sothcreyc, Somerseteschyre,
Dersettschire and Deveneschirc,
Ant therto al Cornwayle ;
Ant in is lond, sauntz fayle,
He hade vyf bischopes riche.
Me nustc no wcr here ylichc, 360
Of Salesbury wes that on.
He wes a suythe jolyf mon,
At Schyrebourne wes tho the se.
Ant nou at Salesbury ys he.
The bischop of Welles also,
That at Bathe woncde tho.
Metrical Romances. 29
The bischop of Wynchestre,
Ant the bischop of Chychestre,
Ant of Exetre also,
Thilke was deled atuo, 370
That on at Credynton, sauntz faile,
That other at sein Germeyn in Cornwaile.
The kyng of Merkyneriche,
Nes ther non ys yliche,
He hade Gloucestreschire,
Wyrcestreschire, and Warewikeschire,
Staifordschire, and Shropschire,
Al the march and Herefordschire,
Oxncfordschire, and Bokynghame,
Hertfordschire, ant Hontindone, 380
Northamteschire, ant Leycestre,
Lyncolneschire, that ys betre,
Ant the schire of Notingham,
Rykemondeschire, nis nout to blam :
Ant in is lend that wes so muche
He hade foure bischopes riche ;
Of Lyncolne, ant of Chestre,
Of Hereford, ant of Wyrcestre.
The kyng that wes of Estengle sire
He hade Grauntebruggeschyre, 390
Norfolk ant Bedefordschyre,
Loncastel, and Blakebourneschire ;
Ant yn ys lond bischopes thre,
Noble coynte large ant fre,
Of London, ant of Norwyk,
Ant the bischop of Ely ek.
The kyng of Northumberlonde
Hade al the lond, ichonderstonde,
Bituene a water that hatte Homber,
Ant Scotlond ther yt urneth under; 4.00
Ant in is lond bischopes tuo,
Grete lordinges were bo :
The erchebischop of Everwyk,
Ant the bischop of Durham eke :
Thus wes Englond to-deled,
Ant uch kyng from other dreued,
So that ever the strengore
Overcome the feblore,
3© Ancient English
Ant ever the richore
Overcom the porore. 410
Tho com kyng Egbryth,
Ant, wyth batayle ant fyht,
Made al Englond yhol
Falle to ys oune dol ;
Ant sethe he reignede her
Ahte ant tuenti folle yer :
At Wynchestre lyggeth ys bon,
Buried in a marbel-ston.
After him Ethelwolf ys sone
Hade this lend al ant some, 420
He hade sones fyve
Er he partede of thisse live.
The eldeste hatte Athelston,
He wes a suithe jolyf mon.
That other hatte Eylbryth,
He wes a staleworthe knyht.
The thridde hatte Athelbaud,
In werre he made moni saut.
The furthe hatte Achelred.
The fyhte hatte Alured. 430
Ethelwolf in ys time sone
Wende to the court of Rome ;
There he wonedc with the pope,
Ant dude ys lond lute note ;
For he arerede of ys lond her
Thre hondred besauntz uche yer.
That on he yef to arere the lyht
Of seint Petre apostel bryht j
Sethe he yef that other
To seint Poul ys brother ; 440
The thridde he yef, sauntz fayle.
To the sclve apostoyle.
Yet he dude more qued
Ethelwolf or he were ded.
In Englond he arerede a lok
Of uche hous that come smok.
To Rome yef a peny, y wys,
That Petres peny cleped ys.
Ethelwolf on that mancr
Wodede at Rome thre yer, 450
Metrical Romances. 31
Sethe he com hoi ant sound,
Bi Fraunce toward Engelond,
Ant weddede ther a suete thyng,
Charles dohter the grete kyng,
Dame Judyth wes hire noma;
Muche he lovede gle ant gome,
Tho he come to londe her,
Ne lyvede he bote tuo yer :
At the hyde of Wynchestre
Were his bones don in cheste. 4.60
After him rcignedc Achclred,
In ys time, er he were ded,
Com the kyng of Denemarche,
With is host stor ant stark,
Engelond to bywynne,
Ant sle that ther weren ynne.
Ah Achelred ant Alured bo
Connen her mete suo.
That, in a lutel wyhte stounde,
The Deneys hy fellen to grounde. 470
After that bataille sevc yer
Achelred wes kyng her ;
At Wybourne mustre, y wys,
Hys body yburicd ys.
After him regnede Alured,
The wiseste kyng that ever et bred,
He wes bothe war ant wys,
Ant a mon of muche pris ;
He made, thoorh godes sonde,
The lawen en Engelonde ; j_go
Ant sethe he regnede her
Four ant tuenti folle yer ;
At seint Poules liggeth is bon,
Buried in a marbrc ston.
Thilke kyng Alured
Slepte lutel in ys bed,
Thenne he hade travail muche.
Ye mowe wel here wuche :
The tuenti-four tiden ariht,
That beothe in the day ant nyht : aqq
Thilke he delede on threo,
Wel he bisettc theo ;
32 Ancient English
The aht he spcnde, ase mon mai rcdc,
In bcden, ant ys almesdede ;
That other aht ys body to reste ;
The thridde aht were the bcstc ;
Thilke he spende saunt dotaunce,
Aboute thoht ant purvcaunce,
Hou he myghtc him wise ant rede,
Ant ys lond ariht lede. 500
He hcvede a mon in hys chapele,
That thus this tiden con dele ;
He made thre condlen by wyht.
That schulde berne day ant nyht,
When the on condle wes ydo,
The aht tiden vveren alsuo ;
The kyng he warnede by thon,
Hys purpos ariht to don.
The rihtwise Alured kyng
Yet he dude more thyng ; 510
Al his ryghte purchas
To povre abbeyes yef was ;
Hys rentes he delede atuo,
Ne worthe never ys soule wo ;
The halvedel thennc athreo
Wei he bisette theo ;
That on partie he yef hem
That in ys court serveden hym ;
That other he yef ythe stude,
To thilke that his werkes dude; 520
The thridde part he yef thenne
To uncothe povre menne ;
Sethe he delede feire ant wel
On foure that other halvedel ;
That on partie he sende by sonde
To thilke that were povre in londc ;
That other to povre religiouns ;
The thridde to povre cleregouns ;
That other partie thenne yef he
To poure chirgen byyende the sc : 530
Thus livede the gode Alured
Ever forte he were ded.
After the gode Alured kyng,
Rcignede Edward ys sonc yyng,
Metrical Romances. 33
He was bothe war ant wys.
In uch bataille he hade the prys.
Tharefore tho folke of Denemarche,
That beth bothe stor and starke,
Of him were adred so sore.
That in ys time never more 540
Ne dorsten he comen in ys londe,
Leste hem tidde schome ant schonde.
Thilkc Edward hade in is lyves
Fourteen children by thre wyves,
Nine dehtren ant five sones,
That were suythe feyre gomes ;
Of ys dehtren thre wymmen
To religioun yolden hem,
Alfled hatte that on levedy,
He wes abesse at Romeysy. 550
Ediht hatte that other may,
He wes abesse at Wiltoun abbai.
The thridde hatte Aubourh,
An holi wommon thourh ant thourh.
Edward hede a soster fre,
No feirore levedy myhte be,
Ne wisore of sele thyng,
He huelp hire brother Edward kyng,
With hire wyt and hire rede,
His lond wel for to lede, 560
Longe er the kyng were ded.
He wes yeve to the erl Aylred,
That wes a god holy mon.
Ant on ys wif a child he won ;
The levedy pinede so sore,
Er that child were ybore.
That in hire pine he wes so wroht.
That he suor, ant made hire oht,
Bi the vertu of Marie sone,
Nevermore he nolde come 570
By hire lyne nyht ne day,
In the bed ther hire lord lay,
Edward reignede her
Vour ant tucnti ycr ;
At Wynchcstre liggeth ys bon,
Buried in a marbre ston.
E
34 Ancient English
After him reigned Athclston,
God knyht, ant hardi mon,
Bothe by day, ant by nyht,
Wei he hueld his lond to ryht. 5^°
Gui of Warewyk livede tho,
Ant godc knyhtes fele mo.
Alio the theynes of Walschelonde
He made bowe to ys honde,
Ant leyde such truage on hem.
Ant on heore Walsche men,
That thre hondred pond of sterlyng
Heo yeven Athelston the kyng.
Ant eke tuenti pound of golde
Scotlond hym yeve scholde, 59°
Yet Wales yeld more hym
Fif thousent fatte cun
To the kyng uche yer,
Er he mosten be quite ant sker.
Thilke kyng Athelston
Heve a soster, so feir wommon
That in this world me nuste non
So feir levedy of fieysch ant bon ;
Hylde hatte that maide fro,
That hath so muche of beaute. 6oo
Hughe that kyng in Fraunce wes
This maide to queue ches.
For heo wes so feir ant hende,
After hire he con sende
The eorl Edulf of Boloyne,
The erles fone Baldwyn of Coloync,
He wes the kynges messager
In his ncodes fer ant ner.
Tho he was to londe ycome
He fond the kyng at Abyndonn, 6io
Tho he the kyng ymette
Wei feire he hyne grette,
A noble present he him brohte,
Ant of ys suster him bysohte
To ys lord syr Hugh the kyng.
That wes in Fraunce wonyng ;
Aiu from him verrciment
He brohte a richc present,
Metrical Romances. 35
That wes preciouse and deore,
Wuch hit wes ye mowe here : 620
Thre hondred steden mylk-whyte,
In the world nys heore ylyche,
The bridles were for the nones
Bygo with preciouse stones ;
Yet he presentede him also
Other thinges fele mo :
Themperoures suerd Constantin,
The scaubert wes gold pure ant fin,
Therinne wes closed a nail gret
That ede thurh godes fet ; 630
Ant he presentede him the spere
That Charlemayne wes wonet to bere
To-fore the holy legioun.
That is of gret remissioun ;
Ant o partie of the holy rode,
That God schedde on ys blode,
Hit wes closed feir ant wel
In a cristal everuch del ;
Ant thre of the thornes kene
That were on godes hed sene ; 640
Ant one riche croune of golde.
No richore king were ne scholde,
Biset withinne ant withoute
With preciouse stones al aboute,
Richore croune nes never wroth
Sethe god made the world of noth.
Athelston of this sonde wes blythe,
Ant thonkede the king of Fraunce suythe,
His suster Hilde he him sende,
Mid gret honour with hire he wende. 650
Seve yer kyng Athelston
Hueld this ilke kynedom,
Engelond that ys so muri,
And deyede, ant lyth at Malmesbury.
After him his sone Edmond
Wes her kynd in Engelond,
Ah, ase seggeth somme other,
Edmond wes Athelstoncs brother.
Ah he ne reignede her
Bote unnethc syx ycr. 660
3° Anciejit English
Sethe byfel at one feste,
At Canterbury, a cas unwreste :
Ase the kyng at mete sect,
He bihucld, ant undcrycet,
Of a thcf that wes degised
Among his knyhtes hende ant wyse ;
The king wes hastif ant starte up,
Ant hente the thef by the top.
Ant caste him doun to the ston ;
The thef braid out is knyf anon, 670
Ant to the heorte the kyng thruste,
Er eni of ys knihtes wyste ;
The lordinges starten up uchon,
And the thef slowen anon,
Ah rathere he woundede moni on,
Thourh the fleish to the bon :
To Glastingbury me bcr the kyng.
Ant made ther ys buryyng.
After that Edraond wes ded,
Reygnede his sone Achelred, 6S0
A war mon ant a wys.
Ant a knyht of muche prys ;
He reignede nyghe yer,
Ant wes yburied at Westmuster.
Tho anon after hym
Reignede ys sone Edwyn ;
He wes king of gret prys.
Ah of is bodi he wes unwys ;
The firste dai that [he] croune nom
He birafte a god mon 690
Of ys wif for hire feirhede.
Of god he hade lutel drede.
Yet heo wes his cosine,
The sore he servede more pync.
He reignede foure yer,
To Wynchestre me him bcr.
After him reigned Edgar,
A wys kyng ant a war,
Bothe by day ant by nyth,
Wei he hueld ys lond to ryth. 700
Thilkc nyth that he was ybore
Scint Dunstan wes glad therfore,
Metrical Romances. 37
For he herde the stevene
Of the aungles of hevene,
In heore song segge by ryrae,
Yblessed be that ilke time
That Edgar ybore wes,
For in ys time schal beo pees
Ever in his kynedom,
Whil he lyveth ant seint Dunstan ; 710
Ant so ther wes gret foisoun
Of alle gode in ucha toun,
For rith wisore kyng then he was
Never yete ybore nas ;
For alle the whyle that laste is lyf
Lovode he nouther werre ne stryf,
Ne mon ther nas non so heh
That mysdude, feore other neh,
In ys lond, day other nyht,
Ayeynes the laghe eni wyht, 720
That he schulde fonge mede
After the selve misdede :
Hou schulde he speren eni mon
Wen he of bestes wrache nom ?
At Londone he hueld a parlement,
Ware-thure Wales wes yschent,
For thider to him he made come
The theynes of Wales alle ant some,
Him trewe lord for to holde,
Ant to sueren him othes holde, 730
Ant bringen him truage ther
Thre houndred wolves uche yer,
Ant so hy dude treweliche
Thre yer plenerelyche.
The furthe ne mihten he finde none.
So clene he weren alle agonc.
Ant tho the king hit hem foryef,
Ne dude hem no more gref.
Edgar wes an holy mon,
That oure lord him cuthc con, 740
Afterward, ase he wes wurthe.
That he hade leyen in urthe,
Sixti wynter under moldc.
An abbot him remue wolde ;
38 Ancient English
Aylwart hihte thilkc abbot :
Ase me wolde him nymen up,
Ant leggen in a throh of ston,
He founden him bothe fleys ant bon
Al so hoi, ant al so sound,
Ase he was Icyd furst in ground ; 750
Hy nomen him up anon,
Ant wolden him leggen in the ston
That the abbot hevede ilct make
For the nones to his sake ;
Ah so schert he was ywroht,
Istraht ne myhte he ligge noht,
Hys legges hy corven of anon,
Faste by the kneo-bon,
Ah hy hit ne dude for non harm,
Ant the blode al so warm 760
Hem starte out opon,
Ase hit were a quic mon ;
The abbot that ther bystod,
Seh that miracle feir ant god.
Ant lette him in a tounbe don,
Bothe in fleys and in bon ;
Ase me him in tounbe dude,
A wodmon botnede y the studc.
Ant a blindmon hede sihte.
Ant mighte seon suithe bryhte ; 770
Ant a cripel eke anon
Ther him strahte ant myhte gon.
Edgar reignede her
Evene sixtene yer.
Tho he wes ded, afterward
Reygnede hys sonc Edward ;
Ah he ne reignede her
Bote unnethe thre yer,
That Estryld his stcpmoder,
Selde beth ther eny gode, 780
Him apoisonede that he was ded,
To maken hire sone Achelred
Her king in Engelonde,
Ant so he wes with schome ant schonde.
For never pes in is time nas,
Bote whil sein Dunstan alive was.
Metrical Romanies. 39
The king hede a stiward.
That was fel ant culvard,
He was cleped Edrich,
Nes no traitour his ylich, 790
He was suikel fals ant fel.
Ant thah the king him luvede wel,
Ant tolde him his consail,
Ant the traitour uchadel
Sende hit to Denemarke,
By messagers stor ant starke.
Haveloc com the to this lend.
With gret host ant eke strong,
Ant sloh the kyng Achelred,
At Westmustre he was ded : 800
Ah he hevede reigned her
Sevene ant tuenti fulle yer.
Ant yet the Englische ofte ilorae
Thourh bataile Deneis overcome,
Ant crouneden at Northamptoun
Edmound, Achelredes sone,
For is prouesse ant his streynthe,
He wes abrede ant o leinthe
Cleped yent this lond wide
Edmound Irneneside. 810
Yet, in the somer afterward,
Come the Deneise hideward.
Ant conne fihte with Edmound,
That was king in Engelond,
Ene heo him overcome.
Ant he hem cft-sone.
So that heo acordeden,
And this lond to-deleden
Riht evene atuo
Bituene the kynges tho, 820
Thourh consail of Edrich,
Nes never traitour him ylich.
Sethe deyede Edmound,
Thourh Edriches tresoun.
Ah he ne hevede yreined her
Nout bote tuo yer.
Tho hevede kyng Knout
Al this lond out and out ;
40 Ancient Eyiglish
Tho come the traitours of this lond
That heden traised Edmond, 830
Ant slawen him to dede,
Thourh Edriches rede,
Ant were jolif ant proud,
Ant toldcn hit to kyng Knout,
For heore foule tresoun
Hy wenden habbe warisoun ;
Ah Knout wes a god mon,
Ant made hem telle here suykedom
Ant for that tresoun that hy dude
Hy were to-drawcn wythe stude ; 840
Ant so thourh god resoun
He yeld hem heore tresoun.
Sethe sone after thas
Ther bifel a wonder cas.
Ant a muche feorlych,
Bituene the kyng ant Edrich :
At Londone in a soler,
Anybt after soper,
Bituene Edrich ant the kyng
Aros a repreofing ; 850
Sire kyng, seide Edrich,
Who wende that thou wer sich ?
Understondest the noht
Hou dere ichabbe thi love aboth ?
Y lette bitraye thilke mon
That muche gode me dude on,
Al the mastrie of ys lond,
Al wes in myn hond.
Ant ich him lette sle with gyn.
To make the kyng after hym, 860
Ant thou scrvest thus me
To wrotherhele y lovcde the.
The kyng wes ful sore agromed,
Ant of ys wordes suithe aschomed.
Sire Edrich, seide the kyng.
Thou ne gabbest nothing.
With gilc ant wyth suykeydom.
Thou lettest thi lord to dethe don.
That the dude muche honour.
Ant thou were his traitour, 870
Metrical Romances.
41
Ant after trecherie ant gile
Me schal yelde the thy whylc.
The king him lette byndc
His honden him byhynde.
Ant his fet also
Were bounde bo tuo,
Ant at a windou casten out
Right doun into Temese flod :
So endede he his day,
God ys soule jugge may!
King Knout in londe her
Reignede evene tuenti yer.
After thilke kyng Knout,
Reignede his sone Hardeknout ;
He wes kyng Knoutes sone,
Ant a suithe jolyf gome :
He reignede her
Evene ahte ant tuenti yer.
After reignede Edward,
Knoutes sone bastard.
He wes a god holy mon.
Ant lovede wel is cristendora.
He reignede her
Four an tuenti yer.
Ant six moneth also ;
At Westmunstre he dcyede tho.
Sethe reignede a god gome,
Harald, Godwyne sone.
He wes cleped Harefot,
For he wes urnare god.
He ne reignede her
Bote nyghe moneth of a yer.
880
890
^00
4* Jncient English
WILLAM BASTARD DE NORMAUNDIE.
Tho com with gret chevaleric
Willam bastard of Normaundie,
Ant Engelond al he won.
Ant hueld hit ase ys kynedora ;
King Harald he ovcrcom,
Ant lette him to dcthe don.
Kyng Harald, ful y wys,
At Waltham yburicd ys ; 910
Ant thenne Willam bastard
Hueld al this lond to hys part.
Ant tho he made, fauntz fayle,
The abbeye of the bataille.
Willam bastard wes kyng her
On ant tuenti fulle yer,
Sethe he deyede at Ham,
In Normandie, at Caham..
After his endyng
Reignede Willam the rede kyng ; 920
He wes luther ant unwrest,
He made a newe forest,
Fifti moder chirchen ant mo
He lette falle, ant chapeles bo,
Ant clene casten adoun,
And made wode ther wes toun ;
That dude his soulc lute note,
For scthe therinne he was yschote,
With an arewe kcne ant smert.
That wes idrawe to an hert ; 930
Water Tyrel the arewe droh,
Ant the king thermide he sloh.
He reignede threttene yer.
To Wynchestre me him ber.
Sethe reignede an other,
Henry ys oune brother,
He reignede her
Evene five ant thritti yer.
Henry thilke kyng
Lyth yburicd at Rcdyng, 9,0
Metrical Romances. 43
Sethe wel evene
Reignede kyng Stevene ;
He reignede her
Evene tuenti yer ;
He wes a god holi man,
Ant wes buried at Faversham.
After him reigned Henry,
God mon ant hardy.
The erles sone of Chaunpaigne,
Ant a mon of muche mayne ; 950
His moder, ase ye habbeth herd her this,
Hyhte Mahaud the emperis.
He reignede her
Evene four ant thritti yer.
Thilke Henry the kyng
Dude a suithe wonder thing ;
Tho he hevede reigned her
Sixtene fulle yer
He made take Henry ys sone.
Ant croune him kyng at Londone, 960
Ant tho in Englond kynges were
Tuey Henryes that crounen bere.
Ant whil the sone alive wes
Bituene her wes lute pes ;
Ah the sone ycrouned her
Livede threttene yer.
After Henry the sones dethe,
Henry the fader livede unneth,
Vyf yer in Engelond,
Ant hueld this lond in ys hond ; 970
Ant thah the sone croune bere
The fader hueld is date here.
Ant al Eugelond y hoi,
Al to is oune dol.
The erchebischop, seint Thomas,
In heore time martired was.
Tho dcyede the fader Henry her,
That reignede thritti-four yer.
Tho anon afterward
Reignede ys sone Richard ; 980
Richard queor de lyoun.
That was his sournoun ; *
44 Ancient English
Ah he ne reignede her
Bote unnethe ten yer.
Sethe he was yschote, alas !
At Castel-Gailard thcr he was ;
At Fount-Evererd liggeth his bon.
Sethe reignede kyng Jon,
In is time al Engelonde
Wes entredited with wronge, 99°
Thourh an erchebischop,
That wes wis mon ant nout sot.
He hihte Stevene of Longedon,
The kyng him nolde underson.
He reigned seventene yer ;
To Wyrcestre me him ber.
After him reignede Henry,
A god kyng ant holy ;
In his time wes werre strong,
Ant gret stryf in Engelond ; looo
Bituene the barouns ant the kyng,
Wes gret stryvyng
For the preveance of Oxneford,
That sire Simound de Mountfort
Meintenede : ant gode lawes
Therfore he les his lyf-dawes.
He reignede her
Fifti-six folle yer,
Ant tuenti dawes therto ;
At Westmunstre he wes leid tho, loio
Sethe reignede a god gome,
Edward his oune sone,
He was icleped conquerour ;
God yeve his soul muchel honour!
In werre com he never, y wys
That he ne hade the mcste prys :
He reignede her
Thritti-five fulle yer,
Ahte moneth, ant dawes thrc,
In Engelond king wes he. 1020
Tho anon afterward
Reignede his sone Edward ;
Thilke Edward, fauntz-fayle,
Ycf rhc crlHomc of Cornwavle
Metrical Romances. 45
To sire Pieres of Gavaston,
That for envie wes ynorae.
The lordinges of Engelonde
To him heveden gret onde,
For he wes wel with the kyng,
Heo heveden him in henyng, 1030
Ant seiden he wes traitour
To the king ant to heore honour.
Ant for he wes loverdsuyke,
Heo ladden him to Warewyke,
At Gaveressich, ye mowe wyte,
Ther his heved wes of smyte.
T ▼▼▼w'w^^"r A
LE BONE FLORENCE OF ROME.
The only copy of this excellent old romance is extant in a paper
MS. in Bishop More's collections, in the public library of the
university of Cambridge (Num. 690), written, it seems, in or about
the time of King Edward IV. from which it has been, and, it is
hoped, carefully, transcribed. No French original is known,
though repeated references to "the boke" or "romance" render it
more than probable that such a one has actually existed. As to
the rest, a story, much more concise, indeed, but, in many respects,
similar, is to be found in the manuscript copies of the Latin Gesta
Romanorum (Harley, 2270, etc. C, loi), as well as in the English
versions of that work (Ibi. 7333, Num. 69, and Robinson's edition,
sig. O b). This, which is likewise told in the Speculum historiale of
Vincentius Bellovacensis (L. 7, C. 90), was dilated in prosaic stanzas
bv Thomas Hoccleve ; and a material incident, common to both
(that of the bloody knife), is introduced into Gower's legend of
Constance, and Chaucer's Man of lawes tale; though it does not
occur in Emare, which, as will be elsewhere observed, is sub-
stantially the same narrative.* See Warton's History of English
Poetry, III, Ixxxiii. The same story, in French verse, exists in a
MS. of the twelfth and thirteenth century, in the library of Berne
(Num. 634). See Sinner's catalogue (III, 389), and Le Grand,
Fabliaux ou contes,Y, 164. It is also in the Patranas de Timoneda^
fo. 21.
The name of the romance, or its heroine, would be more
properly written La bonne Florence of Rome, but our ancestors,
who acquired their French, like Chaucer's Prioress,
" After the schole of Stratford atte bowe,"
seems to have payed little or no attention to gender. We still
call the parish of St. Mary la bonne as, grammatically, it owes to be,
St. Mory le bone.
There is no head-title in the MS. but, at the end, is '■'■Explicit
le bone Florence of Rome."
* This incident has, likewise, found its way into the Histoire de Gerard comte de
Nevert ; see tome 2, C. 4.
LE BONE FLORENCE OF ROME.
— ^>%^^^^Z-' —
As ferre as men ryde or gone
A more chyvalrous town then Troy was oon
In londe was never seen ;
Nor better knyghtys then came of hyt
In all thys worlde was never yyt,
For bothe hardy and kene.
Then came oon hyght Awdromoche,
The furste byger of Anteoche,
And enhabyted cuntreys clene ;
Antenowre was of that barme-teme, lo
And was fownder of Jerusalem,
That was wyght withowtyn wene.
Helemytes hyght the thryd Troyon,
And was a stronge man of blode and bone,
That fro Troy came to Awfryke ;
Eneas be schyp gate to Rome,
The chefe cyte of Crystendomc,
Then was ther none hyt lyke.
Unto the tyme that the emperowr sir Garcy
Werryd on hyt, and herkenyth why, 20
That many a oon sore can syke ;
Of Costantyne the nobull was he,
A doghtyar knyght thar not be
In batell for to stryke.
Another emperowre reygned at Rome,
Syr Otes the grawnt hyght that gome,
That wyght was undur-schylde ;
A feyre lady he had to wyfc,
That on a day loste hur lyfc.
That worthy was to welde, 30
And dyed of a maydyn chylde.
That aftur waxe bothe meke and mylde,
So fayre was seen but seldc.*
* A fourth part of this stanza is wanting; all the rest are perfect.
48 Ancient English
Whan the eraperys was dedd.
The Emperowre was wylde of redd,
He gart crysten rhys chylde bryght,
And callyd hur Florens thys maydyn feyre,
Bothe hys doghtyr and hys heyre,
In thys worlde was not soche a wyght,
Wolde ye lythe y schoulde yow telle 40
Of the wondurs that there befellc
Abowte in cuntreys ryght :
For thre dayes hyt reyned blode,
And bestes faght as they were wode,
Bothe wylde and tame with myght ;
Fowlys in the fyrmament
Eyther odur in sondur rente.
And felle dedd to the grownde,
Hyt sygnyfyed that aftur come
Grete trybulacions unto Rome, 50
Schulde many a man confowndc ;
As was for that maydyn small,
Owte-takyn Troy and Rownsevall,
Was never in thys worlde rownde.
Syr Otes, the nobull emperowre,
Gart norysch the chylde with honowrc.
And kept hur hole and sownde.
He set to scole that damysell,
Tyll sche cowde of the boke telle,
And all thynge dyscrye, 60
Be that sche was fyftcne yere olde,
Wei sche cowde, as men me tolde,
Of harpe and sawtrye ;
All hur bewteys for to nevyn
Myght no man undur hevyn,
For sothe no more may i.
To mykyll bale was sche borne.
And many a man slayn hur forne,
And in grctc bateJs can dye.
When syr Garcy herde seye 70
That the emperowre of Rome had soche a may
To hys doghtur derc,
Metrical Ron: a /ices. 49
He waxe hasty as the fyre,
And gart sembyll the lordes of hys empyr.
That bolde and hardy were.
He seyde, Ofte have ye blamed me
For y wolde not weddyd bee,
Y have herde of a clere,
Florens that ys feyre and bryght,
In all thys worlde ys not soche a wyght, 80
Y wyll hur have to my fere.
As the romans trewly tolde,
He was a hundurd yerys olde,
And some boke seyth mare.
He was arayed in ryche parell,
Of sylke and golde wythowtyn fayle.
All whyte was hys hare.
He seyde, Syrs, wendyth ovyr the see.
And bydd the emperowre of Rome sende mc
Hys doghtur swete and sware, 90
And yf he any gruchyng make.
Many a crowne y schall gar crake.
And bodyes to drowpe and dare.
Hys flesche trembylde for grete elde,
Hys blode colde, hys body unwelde,
Hys lyppes bio for-thy ;
He had more mystyr of a gode fyre.
Of bryght brondys brennyng schyre,
To beyke hys boones by,
A softe bath, a warme bedd, 100
Then any maydyn for to wedd,
And godo encheson why.
For he was bresyd and all to-brokyn,
Ferre travelde in harnes, and of warre wrokyn :
He tolde them redylyc ;
When ye have the maydyn broght.
That ys so feyre and worthely wroght,
Sche schall lygg be my syde,
And taste my flankys with hur hondc,
That ys so feyre y undurstonde, iio
Yn bedde be mc to bydc.
50 Amieyit English
Sche schall me bothe hodur and happc,
And in hur lovely armes me lappc,
Bothe evyn and raorne tyde ;
Byd hur fadur sendc hur to me,
Or y schall dystroye hym and his cytc,
And thorow hys rcmes ryde.
A prowdc garson that hyght Acwrye,
He was borne in Utalye,
The emperowre aftur hym sende ; 120
And forty lordes wryttes withynne,
That were comyn of nobull kynne,
In message for to wende ;
And forty stedes with them he sente,
Chargyd with golde for a presente,
"And, say hym as my frendc.
That y grete wele sir Otes the graunt.
And byd hym sende me his doghter avenaunt.
That ys curtes and hende.
He cawsyd them to hye as they were wode, 130
Wyth schyppes soone into the flode,
They rechyd ovyr the depe ;
Spaynysch stedys with them they ledd,
And clothys of golde for back and hedd.
That men myght undur slepe.
Aye the wynde was in the sayle,
Over fomes they flett withovvtyn saylc,
The wethur them forthe can swepe.
The furste havyn that ever they hentc
Was a towne they calde Awtrement, i^o
That folke them feyre can kcpe.
Soon ther tresowrc up they drowe,
And ther stedys strong ynowe,
And made theyr schyppys tome ;
They lefte a burges feyre and whcme,
All theyr schyppys for to yemc,
Unto ther gaync-come.
They passed thorow Pole and Chawmpayn,
Evyr speryng ther gatys gane
Unto the cytc of Rome ; 150
Metrical Romances. 5 1
160
They entyrde yn at the yatys wyde,
Full ryally thorow the cyte they ryde,
Ane dredyd no wrang dome.
The fourti messengerys, as y yovv say,
Every con rode in seyre array,
Ther sadyls schone full bryght ;
Ther brydyls glyteryng all of golde,
Ther was never frcscher upon molde.
Made be day nor nyght.
A stede of Spayne, y undurstande,
Every lorde ledd in hys hande,
Bothe full prest and wyght ;
All was covyrde wyth redd sendell,
The caryage behyndc, as y yow telle.
Came wyth the tresur ryght.
Thorow the towne the knyghtes sange.
And ever ther bryght brydyls range,
Makeyng swete mynstralcy ;
Lordys and ladyes of grete astate.
And odur many, well y wate, 1 70
At wyndows owt can lye ;
And ever the formast speryd the wayes
Unto the emperowrs paleys.
Full ryall was that crye ;
Feyre they were resseyvyd there
Wyth him that was full wyse of lore,
Hys doghtur sate hym bye.
In a robe ryght ryall bowne,
Of a redd syclatowne.
Be hur fadur sydc ; 180
A coronell on hur hcdd sett,
Hur clothys wyth bcstcs and byrdcs wer bete.
All abowte for prydc.
The lyghtnes of hur ryche pcrrc,
And the bryghtnes of hur blcc,
Schone full wondur wyde.
There were kynges in that halle,
Erlys and dewkys, who rekcnytli all,
Full a hundurd that tydc.
52 Ancient English
Thes fourti messengerys at ones 190
Entyrc into thcs worthy vvones,
And came into the halle :
Syr Acvvryc haylscd the emperowrc.
And hys doghtyr, vvhytc as floure.
That feyrest was of all.
He askyd of whens that they myght bee.
" Of Costantyne the nobull are we,"
"Feyre, syrrys, mote yow befalle."*
"A present we have broght in hye,
Fro owre emperowrc, syr Garcy, 200
Stedys into thy stalle,
And fourty horsys chargyd ryght,
Wyth clothys of golde, aud bcsawntes bryght.
Into thy tresory.
He byddyth, wythowte avysement,
That thy doghtur be to hym sent.
For to lygg hym by ;
Hys body ys brcsyd, hys bones are oldc,
That sche may kepe hym fro the coldc,
Have done now hastelye. 2 1 o
In comely clothyng sche schall be cledd,
I have gretc hope he wyll hur wedd,
Sche ys a feyre lady :
And yf thou sende hur not soone,
Hastelye, wythowten wone.
Then ryseth ther a stryfe :
Ellys wyll he nygh the nere,
Wyth hys ryche powerc.
And fcche hur as hys wyfe.
He wyll dystroye thy bygly landys, 220
And flee all that before hym standys.
And lose full many a lyfe.
Have done, he seydc, hastelye in hye.
An answere muste we gyf Garcy,
At home when we can ryve."
* This interruption in the embassador's address seems to be a compliment, or
welcome, on the king's part; after wiiich the embassador proceeds.
Metrical Romances. 53
The emperowre seyde, as a man hende.
Ye schall have an answere or ye wende,
And calde the steward hym tylle :
"The yonder knyghtes to chawmbur ye lede,
Of all thynge that they have nede 230
Serve them at ther wylle ;
They are syr Garcys messengerys,
And go we to oure cowncell perys,
And leve them bydyng stylle,
To loke what beste ys for to doo,
Soche tythyngys ys comyn us too,
Loke whedur we wyll fulfylle."
The emperowre hys doghtur be the hande hent.
And to a chaumber they wente,
Hys cowncell aftur hym yede, 240
And askyd yf sche wolde sent ther-tyllc,
For to be at syr Garcyes wylle.
And sche seyde, Jhesu forbede !
Sche seyde. Be god, that boght me dere,
Me had levyr the warste bachylere
In all my fadurs thede,
Then for to lye be hys bresyd boones.
When he coghyth and oldely grones,
I can not on hys lede.
Hur fadur lykyd hur wordys vvele, 250
So dud hys cowncell every dele,
And blessyd hur for hur sawc.
They seyde, Yf that Garcy co;;-;-.-,
In evyll tyme he hedur nome
Hedurward for to drawe.
The garsons be not so doghtye.
But mony of them soone schall dye,
Yf we togedur plawe ;
Go we hens, owre redd ys tane,
Odur cowncell kepe we nane, 260
Be ryght nodur be lawe.
The emperowre came into the halle,
The messengerys had etyn all,
And stode to byde an answare :
54 Ancient English
He seyde, Syrs, wendyth hamc.
For here schall ye have no game,
God forbcde hyt so ware !
Take the tresowr that ye broght.
But my doghtur getc ye noght,
For all yowre bostefuU fare ; 270
Wc schall stonde ovvre chawncc unto,
Whedur he come, or not so do.
Full mckyll we schall not care.
Then Acuryc can say,
In the begynnyng of Maye,
My lorde will buske hym to ryde.
And take the somer before hym clenc,
And dystroye thy londys all be deene,
Who ys he that schall hym byde ?
Then answeryd syr Egraveyne, 280
Wc schall founde to knok ageyne,
For all hys grete prydc.
The emperowre comawndyd no man schulde do
Harme the -messcngerys unto,
They toke ther leve that tyde.
Then the messengerys all togedur,
Wyth the tresowre that they browght thcdur,
Went home agaync.
Al so tyte as syr Garcy sawe,
Wyt ye wel he lyste not to lawc, 290
But mornyd in mode and mayne ;
Alther furste he toke hym come
To spere the estyrs of Rome,
To telle hym Acurye was fayne :
"Syr, hyt ys feyrc bygged with halles and bowrys,
We tolde the seven hundurd towrys.
So Cryste me save and saync ;
And thcr lorde syr Otes the graunt,
Wyth mekyll worschyp they hym avaunt.
Of curtesye he ys the welle ; 300
And therto trevvc as any stele.
For thy, sir, men love hvm welc,
Mony wyth hym to dwcllc ;
Metrical Rornances. 55
He ys bothe ware and wyse.
And gevylh them gyftys of pryce.
The cercen sothe to telle;
And hys doghtur, the feyrcst thynge,
That ever was seen wolde or yyngc,
Made of flesche and felle.
Thogh a man sate on a wyght pal fray c, 310
All the longe somers-day,
Avysyd myght he be
For to ryde Rome abowte,
And come yn whcr he wente owt,
Hyt were a grete yurne.
Every day in the yere
The feyre ys there lyke playnere,
Amonge the folke so free ;
Syxty dewkys are calde hys perys,
And twenty thousande bachyleres 320
Longyth to that cyte.
Of the cmperowrs pales y wyll yow say,
Ther ys no soche in the worlde to-day
Stondyng undur hevyn ;
The pyllers that stonde in the halle,
Are dentyd wyth golde and clere crystalle,
And therto feyre and evyn.
They are fyllyd wyth sylver, as Criste me cover.
And ther ys peynted wythynne and over,
The dedly synnes sevyn ; 330
There was peyntyd wyth thynges sere.
That men myght mewse on many a yere.
Or he hyt scryed wyth stevyn.
There corayth watur in a condyte,
Thorow a lyon rennyth hyt.
That wroght ys all of golde,
And that standyth in the myddys of the halle ;
A hundurd knyghtes and ladyes smalle
Myght wasche there and they woldc
All at ones on that stone ; 340
Many othur watiirs come thorow the town,
That freschc arc upon foldc ;
56 Ancient English
In myddys the cyte ys oon rennandc,
Tygcr hyt hyght, y undurstande,
As men there us toldc,
The effect of Rome y have yow toldc,
And of the best barons bolde,
That lyggc there-wythynnc ;
But of the feyrenes of the mayc
I can not telle mony a day, 350
Ne noght y wyll begynne,"
But, sir, he seyde, al so mote y the,
Thyn eyen mon sche never see,
To welde yyt nodur to wynne.
Full grete othys Garcy hath sworne :
" Many a thousand schall dye therforne.
Or y of my brcthe blynne ;
Or thre monythys and a halfe be gone,
I shall dystroye hys landys everychon,
And wynne hys doghtur with were." 36c
Then he made to sende owt wryttes wyde.
In hys londe on every syde,
Messengerys can them bere ;
And Florence fadur at hame
Ordeygned hys men on the same,
With armowre, schylde, and spere :
And thus begynneth a bale to brewe.
Many a man therfore myght rewe,
And wemen hyt dud grete dere.
Syxty thousand sembelde then 370
Of garsons, and of odur men
To Garcy in that stownde,
They set up seylys, and forthe they rode.
And ay hymselfe, wythowten bode.
The formaste forthe ean fownde.
Syxty myle fro Rome ryved they,
Hyt went nere on the thrydd day,
Ther was not oon drowned ;
They tyght ther pavylons in a stedc.
The brodc felde waxe all redd, 380
So glemed golde on the growndc.
Metrical R omances . 5 7
The medowe was called Narumpy, 380
The water of Tyber rennyng by,
There Garcyes pavylon stode ;
All the clothys were of sylke,
The ryche ropys were ryght swylke,
The boosys were redd as blode.
Ther was no beest that yede on fote
Byut hyt was portreyed there, y wote.
Nor fysches svvymmyng in flode ;
Fyftene pomels of golde there schoon,
An egyll and a charbokull stone, 390
Wyde the lyghtnes yode.
The emperowre of Rome lay on his walle.
And hys doghtur gente and small,
Florence the feyre sche hyght ;
And sye the garsons assay ther stedys,
Sterne men in stele wedys,
The medow all can lyght.
He seyde, Y have golde ynogh plente,
And sowdears wyll come to me,
Bothe be day and nyght ; 400
Now schall y never my golde spare,
But faste upon thys warre hyt ware,
God helpc me in my ryght.
The kynge of Hungary that tyme was dedd,
And leftc hys sonnes wylde of redd,
Syr Mylys and syr Emere ;
Ther modur was weddyd to a stedd,
Agenste all the baronage redd,
As ye schall further here.
To a lorde that wonnyd thereby, 410
Syr Justamownde of Surry,
That Sterne was to stere.
The kynge of Naverne toke thes chyldur two.
And made them knyghtys bothe tho,
And manhode can them lere ;
Tyll hyt fcllc oones on a day
They wente to a medowe to playe.
To lerne them for to rydc :
58 Ancient English
Syr Emere bare in hys schylde
A whyte dowve, whoso bchclde, 4.20
A blakk lyon besyde :
The whyte dowve sygnyfyed
That he was full of knyghthedd,
And mekeness, at that tyde ;
The lyon, that he was ferse and fclle,
Amonge hys cnmyes for to dwelle,
And durste bcstc in batcll byde.
A wery palmer came them by,
And seyde, Syrrys, y have ferly
That ye wyll not fare. 430
I have bene at grete Rome,
To seke seynte Pctur, and thens y come,
Straunge tythyngys harde y thare.
Ther ys an emperowre, that hyght Garcy,
Is logyd in the Narumpy,
Wyth syxty thousande and mare,
He seyth the emperowre of Rome schall not leve
But yf he to hym hys doghtur geve.
That ys so swete of sware.
Than syr Mylys, and sir Emere, 440
Toke wyth them forty in sere.
That were comyn of gentyll kynnc,
To grete Rome evyn they rode.
And at a burges hows abode.
And there they toke ther ynnc.
They speryd of ther ostc and ther ostcs,
Of ther tythyngys more and lessc,
Or evyr they wolde blynne.
They fownde hyt as the palmer tolde,
They seyde with Otcs dwelle they woldc, 450
Whedur hyt were to lose or wynnc.
Fyve thousande on the morne Garcy sent
Of hys men veramcnt,
Welc arayed in ther gcre ;
As nere as they durste for dowte,
Fyfty of them ysscvved owte,
For to juste in werrc.
Metrical Romances. 59
That sawe syr Mylys and Emere,
Wyth ther ferys bothe in fere,
They thoght them for to feere ; 460
They passyd owt at a posterne,
Os men that schoulde of batayle lerne,
Wyth armowre schylde and spore.
Thes fyfty had forjusted soone,
And slewe them down withowten mone,
All that wolde abyde ;
Oon came prekyng owt of the prees,
To syr Emere evyn he chese,
But soone was fellyd hys pryde.
Syr Emere reysyd hys spere on hyght, 470
Thorow the body he bare the knyght,
And downe he felle that tyde.
Than they faght hand ouyr hedd,*
Many oon there ther lyvys levydd,
That came on Garcyes syde.
The emperowre of Rome lay on hys wall,
And hys doghtur gent and small,
Florence feyre and free ;
Sche seyde, Fadur, with mylde stevyn.
To us ys comyn helpe fro hevyn, 480
Fro god in mageste ;
Yondur ys a nobull knyght,
That styrryth hym styfly in the fyght,
Beholde and ye may see ;
Wyth the whyte dowve and the blak lyon,
The beste that cometh he stryketh down,
Helpe that he rescowde bee.
The emperowre calde syr Egravayne,
Add syr Sampson, that was hym gayne.
Armed well and ryght, 490
A hundurd men with them he toke,
Up they lepe, so seyth the boke.
On stedys stronge and wyght.
All that were lefte onslayne,
Fledd unto ther strcnkyth agayne,
Hyt was a semely syght.
* Conjectural Emendation : he-vydd.
6o JncUfit English
Then swere Garcy, in full gretc yre.
That he wolde brenne all Rome with fyre,
On the mornc yf that he myght.
Then syr Mylys and syr Emere, S"-"-*
Wyth ther forty felows in fere,
Come the emperowrc beforne ;
They salutyd hym full ryally,
And hys doghtur that stode hym by :
He askyd where they were borne.
They answeryd hym full curteslye,
We were the kynges sonnes of Hungary,
Owre fadur hys lyfe hath lorne,
And hedur are we come to the,
As sowdears, yf mystyr bee ; 5^°
We speke hyt not in skorne.
God, and seynt Petur of Rome,
Yylde yow yowre hedur-come.
The emperowrc can sey ;
So doghtely as yc have begonne,
Was never men undur the sonne
So lykyng to my paye.
Then the maydyn thankyd them efte,
He them wythhelde with them they lefte.
To mete then wente thay ; ^20
The emperowrc set syr Mylys hym by,
Emere cowde more of curtesye.
And he ete with the maye.
Sche thoght hym a full curtes knyght,
Feyrc, yonge, semely, and wyght,
Hur harte to hym can yylde.
Syr Mylys seyde the emperowrc too.
And ye wolde at my councell doo,
Ye schoulde not fyght in fylde,
But close the yatys, and the brygges up drawe, 530
And kepe us clene owt of ther awe,
And owre wcpons wyghtly welde :
And kepe the town bothe nyght and day,
Tyl they be wery and wcndc away :
Syr Emere hym beheldc.
Metrical Romances. 6i
Emere seyde Mylys unto,
So myght a sympull grome do,
Kepe an holde wythynne ;
But we wyll manly to the felde,
And syr Garcy batell yelde, 540
To morne or that we blynne.
Then they made crye thorow the cyte,
That no man schoulde so hardy bee.
That waryson vvolde wynne.
But folowe the standard wher hyt goys,
And freschly fyght upon owre foys,
Bothe the more and the mynne.
Than syr Garcy, wyth mekyll pryde,
Made to crye the same on hys syde,
Amonge the barons bolde ; 550
The kynge of Turkay he seyde than.
Thou art a fulle madde man,
And fayleste wyt for elde ;
Syr Otes the graunt hath noght gylte.
Let therfore no blode be spylte.
For hym that all schall welde ;
Nay he warnyd me hys doghtur schene.
And that hath tymberde all my teene.
Full dere hyt schall be selde.
A Roman stode besyde and harde, 560
To the towne full soone he farde.
And tolde the emperowre ;
The maydyn mylde up sche rase,
With knyghtes and ladyes feyre of face,
And wente unto a towre.
There sche sawe ryght in the feldys
Baners brode and bryght scheldys
Of chevalry the flowre.
They nowmberde them forty thousand men,
And a hundurd moo then hur fadur had then, 570
That were ryght styfTe in stowre.
Alias! seyde that maydyn clere,
Whedur all the yonde folke and there
Schoulde dye for my sake,
6z Ancient English
And y but a sympull woman !
The terys on hur chekys ranne,
Hur blc begannc to blake,
"Put mc owt to olde Garcy,
Yf all thes men schulde for me dye,
Hyt were a dolefull wrake." 580
Hur fadur seyde hyt schulde not bee ;
Hors and armovvrc askyd hee,
And soone hys swyrde can take.
He lepe on hys stede Bandynerc,
And in hys honde he hente a spere,
And rode abowtc all nyght.
To the lordys of the towne,
And bad they schulde be redy bowne,
Tymely to the fyght.
They set ther standard in a chare, 590
And feele folke with hyt can fare,
That hardy were and wyght,
Syxe lordys and syr Egravayne
To be all ther chefetayne,
And kepe hyt well and ryght.
The standarde was of whyte yvore,*
A dragon of golde ordeygned therfore,
That on the ovyr ende stode ;
That sygnyfyed that Otes ware
In the felde as bolde as any bare, 600
And a Sterne man of mode.
The vawe-warde and the myddyll soone,
And the rere-warde owte of Rome
The grete oost removyd and yode ;
Be then had Garcy takyn hys place.
And soone wythynnc a lytyll space,
Ranne bowrnes all on blode.
Than syr Otes the graunt can calle
On hcrawde and hys knyghtys all.
In myddys of the prees, 610
Whoso beryth hym beste to-day,
Ageyne syr Garcy, as y yow say.
That wyrkyth me thys unpees,
* Original reading : yvar.
Metrical Romances. 63
I schall geve hym a feyre flowre,
Of grete Rome to be emperowre,
Aftur my dyssees,
And wedde Florens my doghtur bryght,
As y am trewe crysten knyght,
Certen vvythowtyii lees.
Syr Emere askyd hys lorde the kyngc, 620
Yf he myght have the furste rydyngc,
And he grauntyd hym tylle.
Owt of Garcyes oost came oon,
A prowde garson, hyght Bresebon,
A wykkyd man of wylle ;
When syr Emere with hym mett,
A stronge dynte on hym he sett,
Thorow hys armowre stylle.
He fonde no socowre at hys schyldc,
But dedd he felle downe in the fylde, 630
Hys harte blode can owte spylle.
Be that the grete oost began to sembyll,
Trumpes to blowe, and stedys to trerabyll,
Harde togedur they yede.
Ryche harburgens all to-rusched,
And stele helmes all to-dusched,
And bodyes brake owt to blede ;
Hedys hopped undur hors fete.
As haylestones done in the strete,
Styckyd was many a stede. 640
For Florence love, that feyre maye.
Many a doghty dyed that day.
In romance as we rede.
Then syr Garcy, with mekyll prydc,
Made knyghtys on hys own syde,
Syxty yonge and feyre ;
The warste of ther fadurs were barons.
And oght bothe towres and townes,
And all were they ryght hcyrc.
When Emere and hys men with them mett, 650
Stronge dyntys on them he sett.
Among them can they store ;
64 Jficient English
At the furste wynnyng of ther schone,*
So tyte of lyvys were they done,
That all deryd not a perc.
Then Garcy yedc nerc wode for yre,
And arayed hys batels in that here,
And fared as he vvolde wede ;
He bad ther dyntes schulde be wele wared,
That no Roman on lyve be spared, 660
Thowe they wolde rawnsome bede.
Ageyne hym came syr Oces the graunt,
A doghty knyght and an aveaunt,
On Bondenore hys stede ;
When Garcy sye that hyt was hee,
He seyde, Syrrys, al so mote y the,
We two muste do owre dede.
Thou art wele strekyn in age, y trowe,
But y am ferre elder then thou,
We two muste juste in werre ; 670
Hyt ys sethyn y armyd ware
* A young or new-made knight was said to iv'w lih spurs when he first achieved
some gallant action. To luin his sines is a phrase of similar import, but of less dignity.
It occurs again, in The Squyre of Liu degre :
" For, and ye my love should wynne,
With chyvalry ye must begynne,
And other dedes of armes to done,
Through which ye may luynne your shone :"
Again :
" And whan ye, syr, thus have done.
Than are ye worthy to luere your shone."
At the battle of Cressy, the prince, Edward, being hard beset, "sent a messenger
to the Icinge, who was on a lytell winde-mill-hill ; then the knighte sayd to the
king, Sir, therle of Warwike, and therle of Camfert, sir Reynolde Cobham, and
other suche as be about the prince your son, are fiersly fought withal, and are sore
handled j wherfore thsy desyre you that you and your bataile wold come and aide
them, for if the Frenchmen encrease, as they dout they wyll, youre sonne and they
shall have muche ado. Then the kynge sayde, Is my sonne dead, or hurt, or on the
earth felled ? No, syr, quod the knight, but he is hardely matched, wherefore, he
hath nede of your ayde. Well, sayde the king, retourne to him, and to them that
sent you hither, and say to them, that they sende no more to me for any adventure
that falleth, as long as my sonnne is alyve ; and also say to them, that they suffer
him this day To winne his spurres ; for, yf god be pleased, i will this iourney be his,
and the honour therof, and to them that be about hym." — {Froissan's Cronydes, by
Sir John Bourchicr, Lord Bcrners, 1525, P. 65. See also Fabliaux cu contes, D, 107.)
Metrical Romances . 6 5
Sevyn yere and some dele mare :
And eyther toke a spere.
So harde togedur can they ryde,
Out of ther sadyls they felle besyde.
And graspyd to odur gere ;
With scharpe swyrdys faght they then,
They had be two full doghty men,
Gode olde fyghtyng was there,
Garcy hyt Otes on the helme, 680
That upon hys hedd hyt can whelme,
Hyt sate hym wondur sare.
•'Syr, with thys dynte y chalenge Rome,
And thy doghtur bryght as blome.
That brewyd hath all thys care.
When that y have leyn hur by.
And done hur schame ane vylenyc.
Then wyll y of hur no mare.
But geve hur to my chaumburlayne."
Tho wordys made Otes unfayne, 690
And tyte he gaf an answare :
God and seynt Petur of thys towne.
Let never Rome come in thy bandoune,
And save my doghtur sovvnde ;
Owre fyghtyng ys not endyd yyt.
On the helme Garcy he hyt.
That he felle to the grownde.
There had syr Garcy bene tane.
But ther came garsons many oon.
And rescowd hym in that stowndc. 700
Syr Emere horsyd hys lorde agayne,
And loovyd god he was not slayne,
And faste to fyght they sownde.
Syr Emere lokyd a lytyll hym fro,
And sawe hys brodur suffer woo.
In a stowre fyghtande :
The Grekys had fyred hym abowte,
That he myght on no syde owte,
But styfely can he standc.
I
66 Ancient English
He rescowde hym full knyghtly ; 710
Many a doghty made he to dye,
That he abovvte hym fande ;
Evyll quytt he hym hys mcdc,
For Mylys was the falsyst Icdc
That evyr levyd in landc.
When he had rescowde hys brodcr Mylon,
Of hys fomen camem thretty bowne,
Stelyng on hym stylle ;
All ther sperys on hym they sett,
He drewe hys swyrde, wythouten let, 720
And Mylys fledde to an hylle.
He seyde, Brodur, al so mote y the.
Thou schalt not be rescowde for me,
Loke whedur that he dud ylle.
But stryked yn at a nodur stowre.
And mett hys lorde the emperowre,
Layeng on wyth gode wylle.
Mylys, he seyde, where ys thy broder?
At the devyll, quod the todur,
I trowe beste that he bee. 730
He ys belefte wyth syr Garcy
Ageyn yow, he tolde me why.
He myght geve more then ye.
Be god, he seyde, that all may.
He ys false, that dare y lay,
Trewly trowe ye me.
The emperowre lykyd hyt ylle.
And leyde upon with gode wylle,
Tyll he myght the sothe see ;
Forthe then lokyd the emperowre, 740
And saw syr Emcre in a stowre,
Fyghtyng agcnste hys foys ;
He strode the stede with the spurrys,
He spared noder rygge nor forows.
But evyn to hym he goys ;
All that he abowtc hym fonde
He and hys men broght to grownde.
That ncvyr oon up rose ;
Metrical Romances. 67
And there was Mylys pre\'yd false,
Wyth hym and odur lordys alse, 750
And loste all hys gode lose.
Than Emere toke harte hym too,
Full doghtely then can he doo,
Florence hym behelde,
And tolde hur maydyns bryght of ble,
In the felde best doyth he,
Wyth the whyte dowve yn hys schylde,
Aud thereto the black lyoun.
Sche cryed to hym, wyth grete sowne.
Thou be my fadurs belde, 760
And thou schalt have all thy desyre.
Me, and all thys ryche empyre,
Aftur my fadur to welde.
When he harde the maydyn bryght,
Hys hedd he lyfte upon hyght.
The wedur wax full hate ;
Hur fadur nere hande can talme,
Soche a sweme hys harte can swalme,
For hete he wax nere mate.
When that they had so done, 770
A quarell came fleying soone.
And thorow the hed hym smate,
They sende aftur the pope Symondc,
And he schrove hym and hoselde on that grounde,
And assoyled him, wel y wate.
As soone as the emperowre yyldyd the gast,
A prowde garson came in haste,
Syr Synagote hyght hee.
And broght an hundurd hclmes bryght
Of hardy men that cowde well fyght, 780
Of felde wolde never oon flee.
Emere stroke in to that stowre.
And many oon made he for to cowre,
And slewe them be two and thre ;
Soone theraftur was he tane.
And knyghtes kene wolde hym have slayne,
But ther soverevgn bad let bee.
68 Ancient English
" Unto syr Garcy have hym seen,
I trowe his lyfc he wyll hym lecn,
He ys so feyre a knyght." 79°
Leve we syr Eracre in the stowre,
And speke more of the empcrowre.
How they on a bere hym dyght.
And how they broght hym to the towne,
Wythowten belle or proccscoun,
Hyt was a drery fyght.
They layned hyt fro ther cnmyes whyll they rayght,
And fro Florence that worthy wyght,
Hys own dere doghtur bryght.
Soone the standard yn they dud lede, 800
And baners bryght that brode dud sprede,
The Romans lyked ylle.
And seydc they schulde upon the morne
Fyght wyth Garcy yf he had svvorne,
That hyely was on hylle.
Florence lay in a Cornell,
And hur maydyns, as y yow telle.
That was curtes of wylle ;
They seyde men brynge yn a bere.
And that wyth a full mornyng chere, 810
But all was hoscht and stylle.
Then can feyre Florence sayne, ,
Yondur ys be gonne an evyll bargayn,
Y see men brynge a bere.
And a knyght in handys leede,
Bondynowre my fadurs stede.
Then all chawngyd hur chere.
Sche and hur maystres Awdygon
Went into the halle allone,
Allone wythowten fere, 820
And caste up the clothe, then was hyt so.
The lady swowned, and was full woo.
There might no man hur stere.
Alias, sche seyde, that y was borne !
My fadur for me hys lyfe hath lorne,
Garcy may have hys wylle,
Metrical Romances. 69
All my brode landys and me,
That y welde yn Crystyante !
Ther myght no man hur stylle.
Lordys and ladyes that there ware 830
Tyll hur chambur can they fare,
Lorde that them lykyd ylle ;
Knyghtes and squyers that there was
Wrange ther hondys and seyde, alias !
For drede sche schulde hur spylle.
Dewkys and erles ther hondys wronge.
And lordys sorowe was full stronge.
Barons myght have no roo :
" Who shall us now geve londes or lythe,
Hawkys, or howndes, or stedys stythe, 840
As he was wont to doo ?"
Syr Garcy went crowlande for fayne.
As rampande eyen do in the rayne,
When tythynges came hym too.
He bad hys men schulde make them bowne.
And hastelye go stroye up the towne,
" My byddyng that ye doo :
Slo them down where ye them mete,
Ann fyre fasten in every strete,
Loke now that taste : 850
I shall wyrke, as have y yoye.
As kyng Maynelay dud be Troye,
And stroye hyt at the laste."
When they harde that were wythynne,
To the yatys can they wynne.
And barryd them full faste.
And they wythowte yngynes bende.
And stones to the walles they sende,
And quarels wyth alablaste.
They wythynne wolde have gone owte, 860
Ther sovereygn marred them for dowte.
And made them to kepe ther holde.
They sygned to the yatys of the towne.
An hundred men in armes bowne,
That hardy were and bolde.
70 Aficient English
The pope came wythovvten delyte,
And entered the emperowre tytc.
They wepte both yonge and olde.
The boke seyth, god that us boght
Many myrakyls for hur he wroght, 870
Many a oon and thyck folde.
So longe logyd the sege there,
That they wythynne nere famysched were,
Evyll lyfe can they lede ;
They were not ordeygned therfore,
They had golde in warme store.
But mete was them full nede.
All they cowncelde Florence to take
Oon of thcs lordys to be hur make.
That doghty were of dcde ; 880
For to mayntene and upholde
Agayne syr Garcy that burne bolde,
The towne levyth all in drede.
And Awdegone hur cowncelde soo
Oon of thes lordys for to too,
Syr Mylys or syr Emere ;
"And let hym wedde yow wyth a rynge ;
Ther fadur was a ryche kynge,
Knowyn both farre and nere."
Ye, but now ys syr Emere tane, 890
And Garcys men have hym slayne,
Seyde that maydyn clere.
" Ye behove to have a nodur.
Take Mylys, that ys hys eldyst brodur,
Hyt ys my cowncell wythowten were."
To syr Mylys Awdegon went.
And askyd yf he wolde assent
To wedde that maydyn free,
That ys whyte as lylly-flowre.
And be lorde and emperowre, 900
The grettyst yn Crystyante.
" But god forbcde, and seynt Myghell,
That thou undurtake hyt but thou do well,
And trewe man thynke to bee."
Metrical Romances. 7 1
To hys speche answeryd he noght,
But stylle he stode and hym be thoght,
And seyde, Y schall avyse me.
Avyse the, seyde that maydyn feyre,
For to be my fadurs heyre ?
Lyghtly may y thynke. 910
Be hym that sufFurde woundys fyve,
I schall nevyr be thy wyfe,
To sufFur dethys dynte.
Kyngys and dewkys have me askyd,
Their londes vvolde have geve me at the laste,
And many a ryall thynke.
Forthe he yede vvyth syghyng and care.
That he had gevyn that fowle answare,
For sorowe nere wolde he synke.
Thys whyle had Synagot takyn Emere, 920
And broght hym before syr Garcy in fere,
And seyde, We have tane a knyght
Agenste yow fyghtyng in the stowre.
We refte hym hors and armowre.
But he ys an hardy vvyght.
Felowe, he seyde, what dyd thou there ?
" Syr, wyth my lorde on the to were,
That now to dedd ys dyght ;
As sowdears, my brodur and y.
We have noght ellys to leve by, 930
Owre fadur fordyd owre ryght.
Syr Phelyp of Hungary owre fadur was,
Now ys he dedd, therefore alias !
Owre modur weddyd ys newe,
In to Surry to syr Justamownde,
That ys abowte us to confownde,
And owre bytter bales to brewe.
He hath dysheryted us, wythowt lees,
That we had levyr warre nor pees,
Per chawnce that may hym rewe." 940
Syr Synagot cowncelde syr Garcy soo,
Syr, delyver hym qwyte, and let hym goo,
He semyth covcnavvnt and trewe.
72 Ancient English
Than answered syr Garcy,
When y toke trewage of" Turky
Thy fadur in stede stode me,
Therforc y schal let the goo,
And geve hym all ye toke hym fro.
Emere knelyd on hys knee :
" Syr, when y come into the towne, 950
I and my men must be bowne
To greve both thyn and thee."
Ye, godys forbode that thou spare.
But of thy warste wylle ever mare :
Garcy, thus sayde he.
" What wenyst thou wyth thy bragg and boost
For to dystroye me and myn hoost } "
He toke his levc and yede ;
Syr Synagot gave hym all togedur,
Be the lefte thonge that he bare thedur, 960
Emere lepe on his stede.
He ledd hym thorow the pavylons all,
Till he came nere to Romes walle.
And paste the moost drede.
Than they wythynne were full fayne.
That they had getyn the gome a gayne,
Ther blysse be ganne to brede ;
And agayne syr Emere they went,
And broght hym before that lady gentc,
And askyd yf he wolde 970
Wedde the best of hur elde,
And all hur londys for to welde,
Agayne Garcy to holde ;
And helpe to venge hur fadurs dedd.
He dud ryght as the lady bedd.
That hardy was and bolde.
He seyde, Prevely muste me do,
Tyll the baronage be sworne us to,
Bothc the yonge and the olde.
Syr Sampson, and syr Egravayne, 980
Syr Clamadore, and syr Alayne,
Wvstc of that bargen newe.
Metrical Romances. 73
They went aftur syr Geffrey of Pysc,
And syr Barnard of Mownt-devyse,
Tho syxe were gode and trewe ;
They made them to swere they schulde be lele.
And syr Emers counsell heyle,
And Florence feyre of hewe :
Thus he tylleth them be fowre and fyve,
All they had sworne to hym be lyve, 990
Then Mylys hymselfe can rewe.
The pope came, as ye may here.
For to crowne syr Emere,
And [wedd] them wyth a rynge,
Sche seyde, Now are ye emperowre of Rome,
The grettyst Lorde in Crystendome,
And hedd of every kynge ;
Yyt schall ye never in bedde me by,
Tyl ye have broght me syr Garcy,
For no maner of thynge ; lOOO
Or lefte hym in the felde for dedd.
Be hym y sawe in forme of bredd.
When the preest can synge.
Emere the emperowre can say,
I shall do all that I may,
But charge me wyth no mare.
Then they wysche, and to mete be gone :
" Of mynstralcy we kepe none,
We have no space to spare ;
Nodur harpe, sedyll, nor geest, 101 o
But ordeygn yow wyth moost and leest,
That wyth me wyll fare ;
And brynge my stede Bondynere,
And feche me forthe bothe schylde and spere :"
Full tyte then were they thare.
Than was there no lenger bode.
But up they Icpe and forthe they rode,
To preke after ther praye.
When worde came to syr Garcy,
A sory man was he forthy, 1020
That weddyd was that may,
K
74 Anciejit English
That was whytc as lylly-flovvre,
And syr Emerc crowned emperowrc.
Alias ? then can he say.
That ever y let that traytur goo.
When he was in my bandoune soo,
Me dawyd a drcry day !
Ther was lefte no man in that town
To kepe the lady of renowne,
That was of temporalte, 1030
That myght wyth ony wepon wyrke,
Owt-takyn men of holy kyrke.
At home they let them bee.
They beganne at the nerre syde.
And slewe downe all that wolde abyde,
Trewly trowe ye me ;
On felde they faght as they were wode,
Ovyr the bentys ranne the blode.
All tho dyed that wolde not flee.
Then on the felde they freschely faght, 1040
Many oon ther dethe there caght,
That came on Garcyes syde.
Syr Garcy toke hym to the fyght,
Wyth an hundurd in harnes bryght.
He durste no lenger byde ;
Of all the men he thedur broght,
Many on lyve levyd he noght,
To schypp went they that tyde ;
They set up sayle and forthe are gone,
To Constantyne the nobull towne. 1050
Al so faste as they myght glyde.
Al so soonc as syr Emere wystc
Wei nere for sorowe hys herte breste.
That he in schyppe can lende,
He bad syr Nylys turne agayne,
Syr Sampson and syr Egravayne,
" For y wyll aftur wcndc :
Take an hundurd men of armes bryght.
And kepe my lady day and nyghl,
That ye curtes and hende ; ic6o
Metrical Romances. 75
Say to hur y am on the see,
Chasyng after myn old enmye,
That slcwe hur derrest freende."
Syr Mylys seyde to thes hundurd all,
Thys herytage to me wyll falle.
My brodur comyth never a gayne.
I wylle wedde the yonge bryde,
He stlepyd nevyr be hur syde.
Nor hath hur not by layne.
All that wyll assent to me 1070
Grete lordys schall they bee :
To graunt hym they were fayne.
Sampson seyde, That wyll y never doo,
Falsehedd my lorde unto ;
The same seyde Egravayne.
All they assentyd but they two.
The todur parte was the moo.
And that was there well seen.
Soche wordys among them can falle,
They preysed abowte syr Sampson all, 1080
And slewe hym in that tene.
They made syr Egraveyne to swerc soon.
Or they wolde wyth hym the same have done.
To wote wythowten wene ;
Sone a bere have they ordeygned.
And the dedd corse theon leyde.
The sorte was false and kene ;
And sethyn to Rome they hym broght.
And told Florence worthyly wroght.
That Emere laye there dedd ; 1090
When that sche had swowned twyes.
And thereaftur syghed thryes,
Sche wepyd in that stedd..
Mylys seyde. My lady frc.
Thy cowncell wyll that y wcdd the,
Hyt was my brodurs redd.
Sche seyde, Y wyll weddyd bee
To a lorde that never schall dye.
That prcestys schcwe in forme of brcdd.
y6 J?ident English
Furste then was my fadur slayne, iioo
And now my lorde ys fro me tanc,
y wyll love no ma,
But hym that boght me on the rode,
Wyth hys swete precyus blodc.
To hym I wyll me ta.
Then Mylys made seven armed knyghtes
To kepe the pales day and nyghtes,
She myght not come them fra,
And also swythe syr Egravayne,
Went to the pope, that sothe to sayne, 1 1 lo
To telle he was full thra,
How that Emere was ovyr the see,
Chasing Garcy to hys cuntre,
And Mylys wolde have hys wyfe,
He had a hundurd to hys assent,
And hyght them londys, lythys, and rente ;
But Sampson hath loste hys lyfe.
And broght hym home upon a bere.
And tolde Florence hyt was Emere,
All Rome he hath made ryse ; 1 1 20
And certys y am sworne them too :
Holy fadur, what schall y do,
That turned were all thys stryfe ?
Then the pope was not lothe
To assoyle hym of hys othe.
For hyt to falsehed can clyne :
"Syr, y schall telle the a sekyr tale,
Hyt ys bettur brokyn then hale,
I set my sowle for thyne."
Than he gart arme of the spyrytualtc, 1130
And of the seculors hundurdys thre,
Or evyr wolde he blynne ;
To the pales he made them to brynge.
For to dystroye that false weddyng,
The matrymony was not fyne.
All that they wyth false Mylys fonde
They bonde them bothe fote and honde.
But they wolde flee not ane ;
Metrical Romances. 77
Mylys set hys backe to a pyllere,
And seyde all schulde dye that came hym nere ; 1 140
But smartely was he tane,
And put in an hye towre.
Be the reverence of the emporowre,
That was made of lyme and stane ;
And twenty of thes odur ay in a pytt,
In strokkes and feturs for to sytt,
Or evyr pope Symonde blanne.
Than the pope and Egravayne 1 150
To telle the lady were full fayne
Hur lord was on the see,
To Constantyne the nobull strekk ;
All the lasse can sche recke,
Tho all bryghtenyd hur blee.
They went to the bere wythowten wone,
And caste up the clothe and sye Sampson,
That semely was to see ;
They dud wyth hym as wyth the dedd,
They beryed hym in a ryall stedd, 1 160
Wyth grete solempnyte.
All thys whyle was syr Emere
Chasyng Garcy, as ye schall here,
As the romans tolde ;
But Garcy had getyn hys pales before,
And vetayly hyt wyth warme store,
Hys wylys were full olde.
Syr Emere set hys sege therto.
Full doghtely there can he doo.
That hardy was and bolde, i i-o
Wyth men of armes all abowte.
That he myght on no syde owte.
But hamperde hym in hys holde :
And thus they segyd Garcy wyth strenkyth.
In hys palds large of lenkyth.
The Romaynce had ther wylle
Of Costantync the noble cyt6
In ther poscescon for to bee,
That many oon lykyd ylle.
78 Ancient English
Syr Emere comawndyd every man li8o
To brooke wele the tresur that they wan,
So myght they ther cofurs fylle.
When syr Garey sawe all yede to schame,
He callyd to Emerc be hys name,
Downe at a wyndowe stylle :
Syr, he seyde, al so mote y the,
Thou holdyst full wele that thou hyghtyst me.
When y let the goo,
Ayeyn to Rome as men may lythe.
Had y wetyn what schulde be sythe, i 1 90
Thou schuldyst not have skapyd soo ;
But syn y qwyte-claymed the thore,
Yyt muste thou be of mercy more.
Thou graunt that hyt be soo.
Nine thowsand pownde y schall geve the
To wende home to thy cuntre,
And wyrke me no more woo.
" Nay, be hym that lorde ys beste,
Tyll y have thys londe conqueste,
And efte be crowned newe ; 1 200
And yf my men wyll so als,
For y trowe ther be noon fals.
And yf ther be themsclfe schall rewe."
Synagot seyde, Be godys wayes.
He wyll holde that he says.
He ys hardy and trewc :
I rede we do us in hys wylle.
And yylde thys empyre hym tylle.
Or he us more bale brewc.
Ther ys not, undurstonde, 1210
An hundurd knyghtys in thy londe
Moo then thou haste here,
Slewe he them not up at Rome ?
In evyll tyme we thedur come.
Or that thy lore can lere.
When that thou went Florence to wowe,
Ovyr the stremes thou madyste us to rowe,
And boght thy pride full dcre ;
Metrical Romances. 79
Many a chylde left thou thore
Fadurles for evyrmore, 1220
And vvedovvs in cuntreys sere.
There they openyd ther yatys wyde,
Syr Garcy came down that tyde,
Wyth a drawyn swyrde in hys hande,
And wyth a keye of golde clere.
And yeldyd unto syr Emere,
Hyt sygnyfyed all the lande.
They ledd yn hys baner wyth honowre,
And sett hyt on the hyest towre.
That they [in] castell fande ; 1230
And soone upon that odur day.
They crowned hym emperowre, y saye,
Ther durste no man agenste hym stande.
Then he gaye londys to knyghtys kydde,
And newe men in ofFyce dydd.
The land to stabull and stere :
He seyde unto syr Garcye,
Syr, ye muste wende home wyth me,
Yf that yowre wylle were,
For to see Rome wythynne, i 240
That ye wende some tyme to wynne,
And Florence- that ys to me dere ;
Hyt schall turne yow to no grefe.
Whether he were lothe or lefe,
Forthe they wente in fere.
Soche a nave as ther was oon
Was never seen but that allone.
When hyt was on the see ;
Then Emere thoght on Mylys hys brodur,
And on Florence feyreste of odur, 1250
At them then wolde he bee.
He seyde unto syr Garcy,
And to odyr lordys that stode hym by,
To Hungary soone wyll wee,
Justamownde for to forfare.
And crowne Mylys my brodur thare,
For kyndyst hcyre ys hec.
8o Jncient English
A messengere to londe wanne,
That some tyme rode, and some tyme ranne,
Tyll he came Rome wythynne ; 1260
He tolde Florence, bryght of hewe,
How hys lorde was crownyd newe,
And the empyre can wynne ;
And wyth hym bryngyth olde Garcy,
The lady fayne was sche for thy,
Sche was comyn of gentyll kynne.
Sche gafe hym, for hys newe tythandys,
Worthe a barony of landys,
Or evyr wolde sche blynne,
Lorde, that ys bothe god and man, 1270
Gyf the emperowre had wetyn than
The treson of hys brodur.
That he dud in hys absence ;
To Sampson and to feyre Florence,
And Egravayne the todur !
The lady went up to a towre.
Be reverence of the emperowre.
And wyth hur many odur.
And toke hym downe that cursyd thefe,
That afturward dud hur grete grefe, 1280
Ther was nevyr no sawe sotheyr.
The lady preyed syr Egravayne,
And odur lordys, that they wolde layne
The treson of the knyght.
And all that he hath done to me.
All forgevyn schall hyt bee.
For godys love moste of myght.
She set him on a gode pal fray.
And bade hym wende upon hys way,
Agenste hys brodur ryght. 1 290
When that he came to the see,
A false lesynge there made hee
Of Florence feyre and bryght,
Syr Egravayne sadylde his stede,
And hyed hym after a gode spede,
He hopyd that he wolde lye ;
Metrical Romances. 8 1
When Mylys sawe the emperowre,
He felle downe in a depe fowre,
Fro hys hors so hye.
Emere, seyde Mylys, what eylyth the ? 1300
" Syr, thus thy wyfe hath dyght me,
For y seyde y schulde hur bewrye.
When y fonde Egravayne lygyng hur by,
In preson yut sche me forthy,
And sorowe hath made me to drye."
The emperowre smote down wyth hys hevydd,
All hys yoye was fro hym revydd
Of Florence that he hadd,
All the lykyng of hys longe travayle
Was away wythowten fayle, 13 10
In sorowe was he stadde.
All the lordys that were hym by,
Recowmforde hym full kyndely,
And bad hym not be adradd
Tyll we the sothe have enqueryd,
Bothe of lewde and of lernydd ;
Thes wordys yyt made hym gladd.
Then came Egravayne, wythowten lees,
Faste prekynge into the prees,
The sothe he wolde have tolde, 1320
But Mylys owte wyth a swyrde kene,
And wolde Egravayne tene,
But he a mantell can folde
Ofte sythys abowte hys arme.
And kepyd hym wele fro any harme.
That hardy was and bolde.
The emperowre bad put them in sondur.
And of yow schall bye thys blundur
Whych hath the wronge in holde.
Syr Egravayne seyde, Syr, now y schall 1330
Tell yow a full sekyr tale.
And ye wyll here hyt wele.
Syr, when he went uuto the sec.
Ye lefte an hundurd men, and us thrc,
Armed in yron and stele,
82 Ancient English
To kepc Florence tyll ye came agayne ;
And that made my brodur Sampson slayne,
And wroght hath myn unhele.*
Unncthe were ye on the sec
When Mylys seyde, here standyth he, 1340
That ye for cvyr were gone.
He seyde he wolde be empcrowre.
And wedde yowre lady whytc as flowre,
That worthy ys yn wone ;
He had an hundurd at hys assente.
And hyght them londys and ryche rente ;
That made syr Sampson slone :
And broght him home on a bere-trce,
And tolde Florence that hyt was ye,
Thon made sche full grete moone ; 1350
And when he wolde hur have wedde,
Faste away fro hym sche fledde,
And wolde have stolyn awaye.
Then Mylys made to arme twelve knyghtes,
To kcpe the place day and nyghtys,
And watch abowte hur lay ;
And certys y was to them sworne,
And ellys had my lyfe be lorne.
The certen sothe to saye.
I went to the pope and tolde hym sa 13^°
And he assoyled me a pena et culpa
Wythowtyn any delay.
Then he gart ame an hundurd clerkys,
Doghty men and wyse of werkys,
To the pales he can them brynge,
They bonde the false bothe hond and fote.
And in pryson caste them, god hyt wote,
And ther yn can them thrynge ;
And Florence let owt Mylys nowe,
For to wende agenste yow, 1370
Be Jhesu, hevyn kynge ;
* The three last lines of this stnnza are apparently missing : every other consisting
of twelve, of which the rhyme of every third line is uniform.
Metrical Romances. 83
Thys wyll wytnes pope Symond,
He wolde not for a thousand pownde,
Telle yow a lesynge ;
Ye schall come home, as y yow say.
Be to-morne that hyt be day,
And thys was at the none.
The emperowre in thys whylys,
Drewe a swyrde to syr Mylys,
But lordys helde hym soone ; 13^°
He badd, False traytur, flee !
That thou nevyr thy brodur see,
For wykkydly hast thou done.
Ev'yn to Rome ageyne he rode,
Hastely wythowten bode,
Or evyr he wolde awey gone,
To feyre Florence can he saye,
A lesying that hur wele can paye.
My lorde byddyth that ye schall
Come agayne hym in the mornynge. 139'-'
Blythe therof was that maydyn yynge.
And trowed hys false tale.
Sche sente to the pope over nyght.
And bad he schulde be tymely dyght,
Wyth mony a cardynale ;
And sche ordeygned hur meyne als,
And went wyth hym that was false.
And passyd both downe and dale.
When they came wythowte the cytc
Mylys seyde. My lady free, 1400
We two muste ryde faste.
And let the pope and hys meyne
Come behynde the and me.
For thus then ys my caste ;
That thou may speke wyth my lorde thy fylle.
And wyth Garcy wykkyd of wylle.
And be nothynge agastc.
For when the emperowre the pope can see,
Mekyll speche wyll ther bee.
And that full longe wyll laste. 1410
84 Ancient Englhh
Mylys, sche seyde, god yylde hyt the.
That y soone my lorde may see,
Thou makyst me full fayne.
The ryght wey lay evyn este.
And he lad hur sowthe-weste,
And thus he made hys trayne,
Tyll they came downe in a depe gylle ;
The lady seyde, We ryde ylle,
Thes gates they are ungayne ;
I rede we lyght unto the grovvnde, 1420
And byde owre fadur the pope a stowndc.
He seyde, Nay, be goddys payne,
Thou schalt hym see nevyr mare.
Tho the lady syghed wondur sare.
And felle off on hur palflay.
He bete hur wyth hys nakyd swyrde.
And sche caste up many a rewfull rerde.
And seyde ofte Wele a saye !
Schall y nevyr my lorde see ?
No, be god that dyed on tre, '43°
The false traytur can saye.
Up he hur caste, and forthe they rode,
Hastcly wythowtcn any abode,
Thys longe somers day.
They were nyghted in a wode thyck,
A logge made that traytur wyck,
Undurnethe a tree.
Then he wolde have layn hur by,
And sche made hur preyer specyally,
To god and Mary free, 1440
Let nevyr thys false fende
My body nodur schame nor schende,
Myghtfull in magestc !
Hys lykyng vanysched all away.
On the mornc, when it was day,
Ther horsys bothe dyght hee.
Up he hur caste, and forthe they rode,
Thorow a foreste longe and brode.
That was feyre and grenc.
Metrical Romances.
Tyll eyder odur mekyll care, H5°
The lady hungurd wondur sare,
That was bryght and schene ;
She had le\yr a lofe of bredd
Then mekyll of the golde redd
That sche before had seen.
So hyt drewe to the evenynge.
Then they herde a belle rynge,
Thorow the grace that godd can lene,
A holy armyte fownde he there.
To greve god full lothe hym were, 1460
For he had servyd hym aye.
Thedur they wente to aske mete.
The armyte seyde, Soche as y ete
Ye schall have, dere damysell, y say.
A barly lofe he broght hur too.
And gode watur : full fayne was scho,
That swete derworthe maye.
Therof the yonge lady ete,
Sche thoght never noon so swete,
Be nyght nodur be day. '47°
Mylys ete ther of als,
He seyde, Hyt stekyth in my hals,
I may not gete hyt downe.
Chorle, god yf the schames dedd,
Brynge us of thy bettur bredd.
Or y schall crake thy crowne.
Be god, he seyde, that boght me dere,
I had no bettur thys seven yere.
The wykkyd man tho made hym bowne.
In at the dore he hym bete, 1480
And sethyn fyre upon hym sete,
Ferre fro every towne.
The holy armyte brente he thare.
And lefte that bygly hows full bare.
That semely was to see.
The lady beganne to cry and yelle.
And sayde, Traytur, thou schalt be in hellc,
There evyr to wonne and bee.
86 Ancient English
He made the lady to swere an othe,
That sche schoulde not telle for lefe nor lothe, 1490
Nevyr in no cuntre,
Fro whcns thou came, nor what thou ys,
Nor what man broght the fro thy blysse.
Or here y schall brenne the.
To make that othe the lady was fayne.
And there he wolde by hur have layne.
But she preyed god to be hur schylde ;
And ryght as he was assaye
Hys lykyng vanyscht all awaye,
Thorow the myght of Mary mylde. i 500
Tymely as the day can dawe.
He led her thorow a feyre schawe,
In wodes waste and wylde ;
Evyn at undurne lyghtyd he
Downe undur a chesten tre,
That feyrest in that fyldc.
He seyde, Thou haste wychyd me,
I may not have to do with the.
Undo or thou schalt abyc.
She answeryd hym wyth mylde mode, 15 10
Thorow grace of hym that dyed on rode,
False traytur, thou schalt lye.
He bonde hur be the tresse of the heere.
And hangyd hur on a tre there.
That ylke feyre bodye ;
He bete hur wyth a yerde of byrke,
Hur nakyd flesche, tyll he was yrke,
Sche gaf many a rewfull crye.
There was a lorde that hyght Tyrry
Wonned a lytyll there by, 1520
In a foreste syde,
Thedur was he comyn that day,
Wyth hawkys and howndys hym for to play,
In that wode so wyde.
He harde the crye of that lady free,
Thedur he went and hys mcync,
Al so fastc as they myght rydc ;
Metrical Romances. 87
When Mylys was warre of ther comying,
He lepe on hys hors and forthe can spryng.
And durste no lenger byde. ^53°
The feyrest palfrey lefte he there.
And hurselfe hangyd be the heere,
And hur ryche wede,
Hur sadull and hur brydull schone.
Set wyth mony a precyus stone,
The feyrest in that thede.
Sche was the feyrest creature,
And therto whyte as lylly flowre.
In romance as we rede ;
Hur feyre face hyt schone full bryght, i 540
To se hyt was a semely syght,
Tyll hur full faste they yede.
Then they lowsyd hur feyre faxe,
That was yelowe as the waxe.
And schone also as golde redd.
Sche myght not speke, the romance seyde,
On a lyter they hur leyde,
And to the castell hur ledd.
They bathyd hur in erbys ofte,
And made her sore sydes softe, '55°
For almoste was sche dedd :
They fed hur wyth full ryche fode,
And all thyng that hur nede stode.
They servyd hur in that stedd.
The lorde comawndyd hys men everychon
That tythynges of hur they shulde sper noon.
Nor ones aske of whens sche were.
Unto the stabull they ledd hur stede,
And all hur odur gere they dud lede,
Unto a chaumbur dere. 1560
The lorde had a doghtur feyre
That hyght Betrcs, schulde be hys heyre,
Of vysage feyre and clere ;
To Florence they can hur kenne,
To lerne hur to behave hur among men,
They lay togedur in fere.
Ancient English
In bedd togedur, vvythowte lesynge.
Florence that was feyre and yynge,
Yf any man hur besoght
Of love, sche gaf them soche answare I57°
That they wolde never aske hur mare,
That was so worthely wroght.
Sche preyed to god that boght hur dere,
To sonde hur sownde to syr Emere,
That hur full dere had boght.
Be that he was comyn to Rome,
He thoght hyt a full carefull come,
Where sche was he wyste noght.
Off Garcy y wyll telle yow mare,
That was cawser of hur evyll fare, 1580
And cawsyd hur fadur to be slayne,
Emere vengyd well hys dedd,
And broght hym fro hys strenkyth full stedd.
To grete Rome agayne.
There lykyd hym noght to bee.
And soone there-aftur dyed he.
The sothe ys not to layne ;
Sche sawe hym never wyth hur eye.
That cawsyd hur all that sorowe to dryc,
Of hur have we to sayne. ^59°
Wyth syr Turry dwellyd a knyght
That hardy was, and Machary he hyght,
He was bolde as any bare :
To hys lemman he wolde have had that bryght,
And spyed hur bothe day and nyght,
Therof came mekyll care.
Tyll hyt befellc upon a day.
In hur chaumbur stode that maye.
To hur than can he fare ;
He leyde hur downe on hur bedd, 1600
The lady wepyd sore for dredd,
Sche had no socowre thare.
Before hur bedd lay a stone.
The lady toke hyt up anon.
And toke hyt yn a gcthe,
Metrical Romances. 89
On the mowthe sche hym hyt,
That hys for tethe owte he spytt.
Above and also benethe.
Hys mowthe, hys nose, braste owt on blood,
Forthe at the chaumbur dore he yode, 1610
For drede of more wrethe ;
And to his chaumber he hyed hym ryghr.
And dwellyd forthe a fowrtenyght,
And then he came agayne,
And tolde hys lorde that he was schent,
Ev}^ll betyn in a turnement,
The sothe ys not to layne :
The tethe be smetyn owt of my mowthe,
Therfore my sorowe ys full cowthc.
Me had levyr to be slayne. 1620
He wolde have be vengyd of that dede,
Florence myght full sore hur drede,
Had sche wetyn of hys trayne ;
A scharpe knyfe he had hym boght,
Of yron and stele well ywroght,
That bytterly wolde byte.
And evyn to hur chaumbur he yodc.
And up behynde a curten he stode,
Therof came sorowe and syte ;
When he wyste they were on slope 1630
To Betres throte can he grope,
In sonder he schare hyt tyte.
And yyt the thefe, or he wolde leeve,
He put the hafte in Florence neeve.
For sche schulde have the wyte.
Forthe at the chaumber dore he yodc.
And Betres lay burlyng in hur blodc.
And Florence slepyd faste.
Hur fadur thoght in a vysyon,
Hys doghtur schulde be strekyn downe, 1640
Wyth a thonder blaste ;
And as a thyck leyghtenyng aboute hur ware :
Up he starte wyth mckyll care,
And a kyrtell on he caste ;
M
90 Ancient English
A candyll at a lawmpe he lyght,
And to hur chaumber reykyd he ryght,
Thorowly on he thraste ;
And fonde Bctres hys doghtur dedd.
The bedd was full of blode redd,
And a knyfe in Florence hande. 1650
He callyd on Eglantyne hys wyfe,
Knyghtys and ladycs came belyfe,
Wondur sore wepeande ;
Gentyll wemen sore dud wepe,
And evyr can feyre Florence slepe,
That was so feyre to fande.
Sche glyste up wyth the hedeows store,
A sorowfull wakenyng had she thore,
Soche a nodur was nevyr in lande ;
Abowte the bedd they presyd thyck, 1660
Among them came that traytur wyck.
The whych had done that dede.
He seyde, Syr, y schall fet a stake.
Wythoute the towne a fyre to make.
And Florence thedur lede.
Ye myght see, be hur feyre clothyng.
That sche was no erthely thynge.
And be hur grete feyre-hede.
But some false fende of helle
Ys comyn thy doghtur for the qwelle. 1670
Let me quyte hur hur mede.
They dyght hur on the morne in sympuU atyr,
And led hur forthe unto the fyre,
Many a oon wyth hur yede ;
Sche seyde, God, of myghtys moost,
Fadur and sone, and holy goost.
As y dud nevyr thys dede,
Yf y gyltles be of thys,
Brynge me to thy bygly blys,
For thy grete godhede. 1680
All that ever on hur can see,
Wrange ther hondcs for grete pytc,
And fardc as thev wolde wcde.
Metrical Romances. 91
The lorde, that had the doghtur dedd,
Hys herte turned in that stedd,
To wepe he can begynne.
He seyde, Florence, al so mote y the,
I may not on thy dethe see.
For all the worlde to wynne.
To hur chaumbur he can hur lede, 1690
And cled hur in hur own wede.
And seyde, Y hold hyt synne.
They set hur on hur own palfraye.
In all hur nobull ryche arraye,
Or evyr wolde he blynne ;
And gaf hur the brydull in hur hande,
And broght hur to the wode ther he hur fande.
And than he lefte hur thare.
And betaght hur god and gode day.
And bad hur vvende on hur way, 1700
And then she syghed sare ;
Syr, sche seyde, for charyte.
Let none of thy men folowe me
To worche me no more care.
Nay for god, he seyde, noon schulde
For nyne tymes thy weyght of golde :
Home then can he fare.
Thorow the foreste the lady rode,
All glemed there sche glode
Tyll sche came in a felde. 1710
Sche sawe men undur a galows standc,
Thedur they ledd a thefe to hange.
To them then sche helde ;
And haylesed them full curteslye.
They askyd fro whens sche came in hye.
That worthy was to welde.
Sche seyde ye schall wete of me no marc
But as a woman dyscownfortyd sare
Wythowten bote or belde ;
No levyng lefe wyth me y have, 17*0
Wolne ye graunt me to be ray knave.
The thefe that yee thynke to hynge.
9 2 Ancient English
The more buxum wyll he bee,
That be were boro-.vyd fro the galow tree,
I hope be hev;n kynge.
Then ther councell toke thay.
They were lothe tT seye hur nay,
Sche was so feyrc a thyngc.
They gaf hym to hur of ther gyfte.
He was full lothe to Iceve hys thefte ; 1730
Sche thankyd them olde and yynge.
Sche seyde, Wolde thou serve me welc,
I schiilde the quyte every dele.
He seyde to hur, Yaa,
Ellys were y a grete fole,
And worthy to be drowned in a pole.
The galow se thou delyvyrd me fra.
Sche thynkyth, Myght y come ovyr the see.
At Jerusalem wolde y bee,
Thedur to. ryde or ga ; . 174^
Then myght y spyr tythandes of Rome,
And of my lordys home come ;
But now wakenyth hur waa.
A burges that was the thefys reyset,
At the townes end he them mett,
The lady rode ovyr an hylle,
I wende thou hadyst be hangyd hye,
And he twynkylde wyth hys eye.
As who seyth, holde the stylle :
Thys gentyll woman hath borowed me, '75°
For y schulde hur knave bee.
And serve hur at hur wylle ;
And sythyn he rowned in his eere,
I behete the all thys ryche gere.
Thy hows y wyll brynge hur tylle.
He led hur up into the townc.
At thys burges hows he toke hur downc.
There was hur harburgerye.
On the hye deyse he hur sett,
And mete and drynke he hur sett, 17^°
Of the wyne redd as cherye.
Metrical Romanies. 93
The burges wyfe welcomed hur ofte,
Wyth mylde wordys and wyth softe,
And bad hur ofte be merye.
Tho two false wyth grete yre,
Stode and behelde her ryche atyre,
And beganne to lagh and flerye.
The burges wyfe wyste ther thoght,
And seyde in feythe we do for noght,
Yf so be that y may. 1770
At nyght to chaumbur sche hur Icdd,
And sparryd the dore and went to bedd,
All nyght togedur they laye.
Sche calde on Clarebolde hur knave,
A lytyll crrande for sothe y have.
At the see so graye ;
Yf any schepe wend ovyr the streme
To the Cyte of Jerusalem,
Gode spne wytt me to saye.
Clarebolde seyde the burges tylle, 1780
Thys nyght had we not owre wylle.
We muste caste a nodur wyle.
To the see they went in fere,
And sold her to a marynere,
Wythynne a lytyll whyle ;
On covenawnt sche ys the feyrest thynge,
That evyr ye sye olde or yynge.
And he at them can smyle.
So mekyll golde for hur he hyght.
That hyt passyd almoost hur weyght, '79^
On eyther parte was gyle.
"Take here the golde in a bagg,
I schall hyt hynge on a knagg,
At the schypp borde ende ;
When ye have broght that clere.
Put up yowre hand and take hyt here : "
Aftur her can they wendc.
They seyde a schypp ys hyred to the,
That wyll to Jerusalem ovyr the see,
Sche thankyd them as sche was hende, i 800
94 Ancient English
Sche gaf the burges wyfe hur palfray,
Wyth sadyll and brydyll, the sothe to say.
And kyste hur as hur frende.
Alther furste to the kyrke sche went.
To here a masse verament.
And preyed god of hys grace,
That he wolde bryng hur to that ryke,
That evyr more ys yoye in lyke,
Before hys worthy face ;
And or sche dyed Emere to see, 1810
That hur own lorde schulde bee.
In Rome that ryall place.
To the schypp they went in fere,
And betoke hur to the marynere.
That lovely undur lace.
They toke the bagg, they went hyt had be golde.
And had hyt home into ther holde.
They lokyd and then hyt was ledd ;
The burges seyde to Clarebalde,
Thou haste made a sory frawde, 1820
God gyf the schames dedd :
For certenly, wythowten wene.
Thou hast begyled a lady schene.
And made hur evyll of redd.
To the see hyed they faste,
The sayle was up unto the maste.
And remevydd was fro that stedd.
All men that to the schypp can longe.
They went Florence to leman have fonge,
Ylke oon aftur odur had done ; 1 830
But they faylyd of ther praye,
Thorow grace of god that myghtes may.
That schope bothe sonne and moone.
Sche calde on Clarebalde hur kna;^e,
The marynere seyde, Y hope ye rave.
And tolde how he hade doone :
Sche prayde god schulde hym forgeve,
A dreryer woman myght noone leeve,
Undur hevyn trone.
Metrical Romances. 95
The maryner set hur on hys bedd, 1840
Sche hadd soone oftur a byttur spredd.
The schypp sayled belyve ;
He seyde, Damysell, y have the boght,
For thou art so worthely vvroght,
To wedde the to my wyve.
Sche sayde, Nay that schall not bee,
Thorow helpe of hym in trynyte
That sufFurde woundys fyve ;
In hys armes he can hur folde,
Hur rybbes crakyd as they breke wolde, l8i;o
In struglynge can they stryve.
Sche seyde, Lady Mary free.
Now thou have mercy on me,
Thou faylyst me nevyr at nede ;
Here my errande, as thou well may,
That y take no schame to-day.
Nor lose my maydynhede.
Then beganne the storme to ryse.
And that upon a dolefull wyse.
The marynere rose and yede. i860
He hyed to the toppe of the maste,
They stroke the sayle, the gabuls braste,
They hyed them a bettur spede.
He seyde but yf thys storme blynne.
All mun be drowned that be hereynne.
Then was that lady fayne ;
Sche had levyr to have be dedd
Then there to have loste hur maydynhedd.
Or he had hur by layne.
Then the schypp clave in sondur, 1870
All that was yn hyt soone went undur,
And drowned both man and swaync.
The yonge lady in that tydc,
Fleytyd forthe on the schypp syde,
Unto a rochc ungaync ;
The marynere sat upon an arc,
But nodur wyste of odur fare,
The todur were drowned pcrde.
96 Ancient English
The lady steppyd to a ston,
Sche fonde a tredd and forthe ys gon, 1880
Loudyng the trynyte,
To a noonre men calle Beverfayrc,
That stondyth on the watur of Botayre,
That rennyth into the Grckys see.
A stepull then the lady sye,
Sche thoght the wey thedur full drye,
And thereat wolde sche bcc.
Syr Lucyus Ibarnyus was fownder there.
An hundurd nonnes theryn were,
Of ladves wele lykeande. 1890
When that sche came nere the place.
The bellys range thorow godys grace,
Wythowten helpe of hande.
Of seynt Hyllary the churche ys.
The twenty day of yowle y wys,
As ye may undurstande.
They lokyd and sawe no levyng wyght,
But the lady feyre and bryght
Can in the cloystur stande.
The abbas be the honde hur toke, 191 o
Annd ladd hur forthe, so seyth the boke,
Sche was redd for ronne.
Sche knelyd downe before the crosse,
And looveyd god wyth mylde voyce,
That sche was thedur wonne.
They askyd hur yf sehe had ony fere.
Sche seyde. Nay, now noon here
Leveyng undur the sonnc.
Sche askyd an hows for charyte,
They broght an habyte to that fre, 1910
And there sche was made nonne.
The lady that was bothe gode and feyre,
Dwellyd as nonne in Beverfayre,
Loveyng god of hys loone.
And hys modur, Mary bryght,
That safe and sownde broght her ryght
Unro the roche of stone.
Metrical Romances. 97
A systur of the hows was seke,
Of the gowte, and odur evyls eke,
Sche myght not speke nor goon ; 1920
Florence vysyted hur on a day,
And helyd hur or sche went away,
Sche wolde ther had wytten thereof none.
The abbas, and odur nonnes by,
Tolde hyt full openlye,
That hyt was so verrayc,
Ther was noon syke nor sare.
That come there the lady ware,
But they went sownde away.
The worde sprang in mony a cuntre, ^93^
And into Rome the ryche cytc.
There hur lorde in laye,
Whych had an evyll in hys hevcdd.
That all hys yoye was fro hym revedd,
Bothe be nyght and daye.
He was so tuggelde in a toyle.
For he werryd on the kyng of Poyle,
And he on hym agayne ;
And as he schulde hys helme avente,
A quarell smote hym verament, '9+0
Thorowowt bothe bonne and brayne.
The leche had helyd hyt ovyr tyte,
And hyt was festurd wythowte delytc,
Theryn he had gretc payne ;
He had levyr then all hys golde,
That he had ben undur the molde.
Or slyly had be slaync.
He calde Egravaync hym too.
And seyde, What ys beste to do ? '95°
Myn evyll encreaseth yerne.
"Syr, at Beverfayre dwellyth a nonnc,
The weyes thcdur we ne connc,
But we schall sp}r and lernc."
Mekyll golde wyth them they tokc,
And wcnte forthe, so seyth the bnkc,
Prcvelv and dernc ;
N
98 Jncieht ErgHsh
And yyt for all thcr mekyll tare,
Hyt was a grete whyle or they came thare,
Tliogh all they hastvd ycrne.
The empcrowre toice hys ynne thereby, 1960
Alther next the nonnery,
For there then wolde he dvvelle ;
And Mylys hys brodur, that graceles fole,
Dwellyd wyth oon Gyllam of Pole,
And was woxyn a fowle mesellc.
He harde telle of that lady lele,
And thedur was comyn to seeke hys hclc,
The certen sothe to telle ;
He harberde hym far therefro
All behyndc men, y telle yow soo, '97°
Hys sckenes was so felle ;
And Machary was comyn alse,
Agenste the lady that was so false,
That slewe Betres and put hyt hur too.
God had sende on hvm a wrakc,
That in the palsye can he schake,
And was crompylde and crokyd therto.
He had geten syr Tyrry thedur,
And hys wyfe bothe togedur.
Dame Eglantyne hyght schoo, 1980
The holy nonne for to praye.
For to helc hym and sche maye,
That oght sche evyll to doo.
Syr Tyrrye the chastlayne
Harbarde the emperowre full gaync,
On the todur syde of the strete ;
And the marynere that hur boght.
That wolde have had hur hys leman to a wroght,
That on the ore can flete.
He came thedur wyth an evyll '99°
Hyppyng on two stavys lyke the devyll,
Wyth woundys wanne and wete ;
And Clarebaldc, that was the thefe,
Came wyth an evyll that dud hvm grcfc ;
Thcs four there all can mcetc.
Metrical Romarues. 99
The emperowre to the church went,
To here a masse in gode entent,
Hende, as ye may here ;
When that the masse was done,
The abbas came and haylesyd hym soone, 2000
On hur beste manere.
The emperowre seyde. Well tbou bee,
The holy nonne wolde y see.
That makyth the syke thus fere ;
An evyll in my hedd smetyn ys.
That y have loste all odur blys ;
They sente after that clere.
At hur preycrs there as sche ware,
When sche sawe hur owne lorde thare,
Sche knewe hym wele ynogh :
So dud he hur he wolde not so saye, 2010
Abowte the cloystur goon are thav,
Spekynge of hys woghe.
Then was sche warre of the four thare.
That had kyndylde all hur care,
Nere to them sche droghe.
They knew hur not be no kyns thynge.
Thereof thankyd sche hevyn kynge,
And lyghtly at them loghe.
Mylys that hur aweye ledd, 2020
He was the fowlest raesell bredd.
Of pokkys and bleynes bloo ;
And Machary, that wolde hur have slayne.
He stode schakyng, the sothe to sayne,
Crokvd and crachyd thertoo.
The maryner, that wolde have layne hur by,
Hys yen stode owtc a strote for thy,
Hys lymmes were roton hym froo.
They put Clarebalde in a whelebarowe.
That strond thefc, be stretys narowe, 2030
Had no fote on to goo,
Sche seyde. Ye that wyll be hale,
And holly broght owt of yowrc bale
Of that ye are ynnc.
100 Ancient English
Ye must schryve yow openlye,
And that wyth a full lovvdc crye,
To all that be here hothe more and mynne.
That they thoght full lothc to doo,
Mylys seyde, Syth hyt mustc be soo,
Soonc schall y begynne. 204.0
I lykyd never wcle, day nor nyght,
Syth y ledd awey a lady bryght,
From kythe and all hur kynne.
Then he seyde to them verament,
How he the lady wolde have schent,
And tolde them to the laste ;
And that he wolde have be emperowrc.
And weddyd the lady whyte as flowre.
And all hys false caste ;
And sythe awey he can hur lede, 2050
*' For y wolde have refte fro hur hur maydynhede.
That sc.he defendyd faste.
I had never wyth hur to doo,
For y myght not wynne hur to,
But clene fro me sche paste :"
And sythyn he tolde them of the barley bredd,
And how he brent the armyte to dedd.
And hangyd hur up be the hare :
" Then y sye men and howndys bathe.
And to the wode y went for wrathe." 2060
There Tyrry gaf answare :
Then came y and toke hur downe.
And had hur wyth me unto the townc.
And that rewyd me full sare ;
Sche slewe Betres my doghter schene,
That schulde my ryght heyrc have bene,
And yyt let y hur fare.
For she was so bryght of blee.
And so semely on to see,
Therfore let y hur goo. 2070
Then Machary, for he muste nedc,
" Sche dyd me oonys an evyll dedc,
Mr harte was wondur throo.
Metrical RoTnunces. loi
When y wolde have leyn hur by,
My for tethe smote sche owt for thy.
That wakenyd all my woo ;
I slcwe Betres wyth a knyfe.
For y wolde sche had loste hur lyfe,
Trewly hyt was soo."
Thou Tyrry farde as he wolde wede, 2080
And seyde, False traytur, dyd thou that dede ?
Then wepyd dame Eglantyne,
And seyde, Alias th:it we came here,
Thys false traytur for to fere.
That wroght us all thys pyne.
Yyt y am warse for that feyre maye
That was so unfrendely flemed away,
And was gyltles therynne.
Clarebalde seyde, Sche came be me,
I stode undur a galowe tree, 2090
And a rope abowte hals myne ;
Fro the galowse sche borowed me.
For y schulde hur knave have bee.
And serve hur to hur paye.
We were togedur but oon nyght.
At the see y solde that bryght.
On the seconde day.
Then spake the marynere that hur boght,
When y wolde hur to wyfe have wroght
Soone sche seyde me naye ; 2100
Sche brake my schypp wyth a tempeste,
Sche fletyd sowthe and y north-weste,
And syth ye sawe y never that maye.
Upon an ore to londe y wanne.
And ever syth have be a drery man.
And nevyr had happe to hele ;
And syth y have be in sorowe and syte,
Mc thynkyth we four be in febull plyte.
That cawsyd hur to wantc hur wylle.
She handylde them wyth hur hande, 21 10
Then were they hoole, y undcrstande,
And udur folkc full teelc.
Jncieut English
Hur own lorde, alther lastc,
The venom owt of hys hedd braste.
Thus can sche wyth them dele ;
The venome braste owt of hys ere.
He seyde, Y fynd yow four in fere.
Hys herte was full throo.
He made to make a grcte fyre.
And caste them yn wyth all ther tvre, 2120
Then was the lady woo.
The emperowre took dame Eglantync,
Tyrrye, and Florence, feyre and fyne.
And to the halle can goo,
They looveyd god, lesse and more.
That they had fownde the lady thorc.
That longe had be them froo.
Such a feste as there was oon.
In that lande was never noon.
They gaf the nonnes rente, 2130
And all tlier golde, wythowt lesyngc.
But unnethys that that myght them home brynge.
And thankyd them for that gente.
Florence seyde, Syr, wyth yowre leeve,
Tyrrye some thynge muste yow geve.
That me my lyfe hath lente.
He gitf hym the cyte of Florawnce.
And bad hym holde hyt wythout dystawncc :
They toke ther leve and wente.
Tyrrye wente home to hys cuntrc, 2140
And the Emperowr to Rome hys ryche cyte.
As faste as evyr they maye.
When the pope harde telle of ther comyng.
He went agayne them wythowt lesynge.
In full ryall arraye.
Cardvnals were somned be ther names,
And come syng\ ng Te deiiin lauJumus,
The certen sothe to save ;
They loovvd god bothe more and lease.
That they had gctyn the cmperes, 2150
That longc had been awave.
Metrical R-^mtitices.
Soche a brydale as there was oon
In that lande was nevyr noon,
To wytt wythowten wcne ;
There was grete myrthe of mynstrals stcvyn,
And nobull gyftys also gevyn,
Bothe golde and robys schene ;
Soone aftur, on the fowretenyth day,
They toke ther leve and went ther way.
And thankyd kynge and quene. 2160
They loovyd god wyth myght and maync
That the lady was comyn agayne.
And kept hur chaste and clene.
They gate a chylde the furste nyght,
A sone that syr Otes hyght,
As the boke makyth myndc ;
A nobull knyghr, and stronge in stovvrc,
That after hym was emperowre,
As hyt was full gode kynde.
Then the emperowre and hys wyfe, 2170
In yovc and blysse they lad ther lyfe,
That were comyn of gentyl stryndc.
Pope Symonde thys story wrate,
In the cronykyls of Rome ys the date.
Who sekyth there he may hyt fynde.*
For thy schulde men and women als
Them bethynke or they be false,
Hyt makyth so fow;e an endc.
Be hyt nevyr so slylye caste,
Yyt hyt schamyth the maystyr at the laste, 2180
In what londe that ever they lende.
* In the introductory note to this qunii.t romanct-, Ritson :iscribes the original
manuscript, which is in the University Library of Cambridge, to the reign of
Edward VI. 1 feel great diffidence in venturing an opinion at variance with so
le:irned an authority's ; — still, I cannot help antedating the manuscript full fifty
vears. The orthography too, I contend, supports my hypothesis. I must acknow-
ledge, however, that of several karned friends whom I have consulted, one lialf were
of my way of tbinkmg, while the remainder inclined to Ritson's view. " Who
5hall decide when tloctors disagree ? " — E. G.
104
Ancient English Metrical Romances,
I meene be thes four fekyll.
That harmed feyre Florence so mykyll,
The trewest that men kende :
And thus endyth thys romance godc.
Jhesu, that boght us on the i:ode,
Unto hys blysse us sonde.
THE ERLE OF TOLOUS.
This romance is printed from a transcript made for the editor by
his amiable and accomplished friend the late John Baynes, from
the MS. in the public library of the university of Cambridge
already described. There is another copy of it in the Ashmolean
museum (45, 4to), of which Dr. Percy got a transcript, and a
third (imperfect) in the library of Lincoln Cathedral. This last
is entitled as follows : " Here begynnes the romance of Dyo-
clecyane the emperour, and the crle Berade of Tholous, and of
the emprice Beaulilione ;" and commences, unmetrically,
" Jhu Criste god and lorde in trynyte."
No French original is known : the Roman de Diocletien (as it is
occasionally called) being that of The seven wise masters of Rome :
neither has the story itself been met with, though incidents of a
similar nature arc not uncommon.
Warton thinks he has " seen some evidence to prove, that
Chestre [the author of Sir Launfal'] -was also the author of the
metrical romance called Tk erle of Tholouse." {H. E. P. II, 103) :
it is a pity he could not recollect where or what, as no one, it is
believed, has been equally fortunate.
^■^
THE ERLE OF TOLOUS.
Jhesu Cryste, yn trynyte,
Oonly god and persons thre,
Graunt us wcle to spede,
And gyf us grace so to do,
That we may come thy blys unto, ^>->
On rode as thou can blede !
Leve lordys, y schall you telle,
Of a tale some tyme befelle,
Farre yn unkowthe lede ;
How a lady had grete myschefe, lo
And how sche covyrd of hur grefe ;
Y pray you take hede.
Some tyme ther was in Almayn
An emperrour of moche mayn,
Syr Dyaclysyon he hyght ;
He was a bolde man and a stowte.
All Crystendome of hyra had dowte,
So stronge he was yn fyght.
He dysheryted many a man,
And falsely ther londys wan. 20
Wyth raaystry and wyth myght ;
Tyll hyt be felle, upon a day,
A warre wakenyd, as y yow say,
Betvvene hym and a knyght ;
The erle of Tollous, syr Barnard,
The emperrour wyth hym was hardc.
And gretly was hys foo ;
He had rafte owt of hys honde
Thre hundurd poundys worth be yere of londe,
Therfore hys herte was woo. 30
He was an hardy man and a stronge.
And sawe the empcrour dyd hym wronge,
And other men also ;
He ordeyned hym for batayle,
Into the empcrours londe saunfayle,
And there he began to brenne and sloo.
Mel7ical Romances. 107
Thys emperour had a wyfe.
The fayrest oon that evyr bare lyfe.
Save Mary mekyll of myght ;
And therto gode in all thynge, 40
Of almesdede and gode berynge,
Be day, and eke by nyght.
Of hyr body sche was trewe,
As evyr was lady that men knewe,
And therto moost bryght ;
To the emperour sche can say.
My dere lorde, y you pray,
Delyvyr the crle hys ryght.
Dame, he seyde, let that bee.
That day schalt thou nevyr see, 50
Yf y may ryde on ryght ;
That he schall have hys londe agayne,
Fyrste schall y breke hys brayne,
Os y am trewe knyght.
He warryth faste on my londe,
I schall be redy at hys honde,
Wythyn thys fowretenyght.
He sent abowte every whare
That all men schulde make them yare,
Agayne the erle to fyght. 60
He let crye in every syde,
Thorow hys londe ferre and wyde,
Bothe in felde and towne.
All that myght wepon bere,
Sworde, alablast, schylde, or spere.
They schoulde be redy bowne.
The erle on hys syde also,
Wyth forty thousand and moo,
Wyth spere and schylde browne.
A day of batayle there was sett, 70
In felde when they togedur mett.
Was crakydd many a crowne.
The emperour had bataylys sevyn.
He spake to them wyth sterne stevyn.
And sayde, so mote he thryve.
io8 Ancient English
Be ye now redy for to fyght,
Go ye and bete them downe ryght.
And leeveth non on lyve,
Lokc that none raunsomyd bee,
Nothyr tor golde ne for fee, 80
But sle them wyth swcrdc and knyfe :
For all his boste he faylyd yyt,
The erle manly hym mett,
Wyth strokys goode and ryfe.
They reryd batayle on every syde,
Bodcly * togedur can they ryde,
Wyth schylde and many a spere :
They leyde on faste, as they were wode,
Wyth swerdys and axes that were godc.
Full hedeous hyt was to here. 9°
There were schyldys and schaftys schakydd,
Hedys thorogh helmys crakydd,
And hawberkys all to tere ;
The crle hymselfe an axe drowe.
An hundurd men that day he slowc.
So wyght he was yn were.
Many a stede there stekydwas,
Many a bolde baron in that place
Lay burland yn hys own blode ;t
So moche blode there was spyltc 100
That the felde was ovyr hylte,
Os hyt were were a flode.
Many a wyfe may sytt and wcpc,
That was wonte softe to slepc.
And now can they no gode ;
Many a body and many a hevyd.
Many a doghty knyght there was levyd.
That was wylde and wode.
The eric of Tollous wan the felde,
The cmperour stode and behelde, iio
Wele faste can he flee,
To a castell there besyde,
Fayne he was hys hcdd to hyde,
And wyth hym erlys thre :
* Conjectural emendation — Boldely.
■}■ Conjectural emendation — //yj blode.
Metrical Romances. 1 09
No moo forsothe scapyd away,
But they were slayn and takyn that day,
Hyt myght non othyr bee ;
The erie tyll nyght folowed the chace,
And sythen he thanked god of hys grace.
That syttyth in trynyte.
There were slayne in that batayle,
Syxty thousand wythowte fayle,
On the emperours syde ;
Thcr was takyn thre hundurd and fyfty.
Of grete lordys sekyrly,
Wyth woundys grymly wyde.
On the erlys syde ther wer slayne.
But twenty, sothely to sayne.
So boldely they can abyde ;
Soche grace god hym sende,
That false quarell cometh to evell ende,
For oght that may betyde.
Now the emperour ys full woo,
He hath loste men and londe also.
Sore then syghed hee ;
He sware, be hym that dyed on rode.
Mete nor drynke schulde do hym no gode
Or he vengedd bee.
The emperes seyde, Gode lorde,
Hyt ys better ye be acorde,
Be oght that y can see ;
Hyt ys grete parell, sothc to telle.
To be agayne the ryght quarell.
Be god thus thynketh me.
Dame, seyde the emperoure,
Y have a grete dyshonoure,
Therfore rayn herte ys woo ;
My lordys be takyn, and some dede,
Therfore carefull ys my rede,
Sorowe nye wyll me sloo.
Then seyde dame Bculybon,
Syr, y rede, be seynt John,
Of warrc that ye hoo ;
Anciait English
Yc have the wronge, and he the ryght.
And that ye may see in syght.
Be thys and othyr moo.
The emperour was evyll payde,
Hyt was sothe the lady sayde,
Therfore hym lykyd ylle ;
He wentc awey, and syghed sore, i6o
Oon worde spake he no more,
But held hym wonder stylle.
Leve we now the emperour in thoght,
Game ne gle lyked hym noght,
So gretly can he gryllc,
And to the erle turne we agayn,
That thankyd god wyth all hys mayn,
That grace had sende hym tylle.
The erle Barnard of Tollous,
Had fele men chyvalrous 170
Takyn to hys preson,
Moche gode of them he hadd,
Y can not tell, so god me gladd,
So grete was ther raunsome.
Among them had he oon
Was grettest of them everychon,
A lorde of many a towne,
Syr Trylabas of Turky,
The emperour hym lovyd sekurly,
A man of grete renowne. 180
So hyt befelle upon a day
The erle and he went to play,
Be a rever syde,
The erle seyde to Trylabas,
Tell me, syr, for goddys grace,
Of a thyng that spryngyth wyde ;
That youre emperour hath a wyfe.
The fayrest woman that is on lyfe.
Of hewe and eke of hyde :
Y swere by boke and by belle, 190
Yf sche be so feyre as men telle,
Mekyll may be hys prydc.
Metrical Romances.
Then sayde that lord anon ryght,
Be the ordre y here of knyght,
The sothe y schall telle the,
To seeke the vvorlde more and lesse,
Bothe crystendome and hethynnesse,
Ther ys none so bryght of blee :
Whyte as snowe ys hur coloure,
Hur rudde ys radder then the rose flour, 200
Yn syght who may hur see ;
All men that evyr god wroght
Myght'not thynke nor caste in thoght
A fayrer for to bee.
Then seyde the erle, Be goddes grace
Thys worde in mornyng me mas,
Thou seyest sche ys so bryght ;
Thy raunsom here y the forgeve.
My helpe my love whyll y leve,
Therto my trowthe y plyght, 210
So that thou wylt brynge me
Yn safe garde for to bee
Of hur to have a syght,
An hundurd pownde wyth grete honoure.
To bye the horses and ryche armoure,
Os y am trewe knyght.
Than answeryd syr Trylabas, '^
Yn that covenaunt in thys place
My trowthe y plyght thee,
Y schall holde thy forward gode, 220
To brynge the, wyth mylde mode,
Yn syght hur for to see ;
And therto wyll y kepe counsayle,
And never more, wythowte fayle,
Agayne yow to bee ;
Y schall be trewe, be goddys ore,
To lose myn own lyfc therfore,
Hardely trystc to mee.
The erle answeryd wyth wordys hende,
Y tryste to the as to my frende, 230
Wythowte any stryfc ;
Ancient English
Anon that [we] were buskyd yare,
On owre jurney for to fare.
For to sec that wyfe.
Y swere be god and scynt Andrevve,
Yf hyt be so y fyndc the trewe
Ryches schall be to the ryfc,
They Icttyd nothyr for wynde nor wedur,
But forthe they wente bothe togedur,
Wythowte any-5tryfe. 240
These knyghtes never stynte nor blanne
Tyll to the cyte that they wan,
There the emperes was ynne.
The erle hymselfe for more drede
Cladd hym in armytes wede,
Thogh he were of ryche kynne ;
For he wolde not knowen bee,
He dwellyd there dayes three,
Aud rested hym in hys ynne.
The knyght bethoght hym on a day 250
The gode erle to betray
Falsely he can begynne.
Anone he went in a rese
To chaumbur to the emperes,
And sett hym on hys knee ;
He seyde, Be hym that harowed helle,
He kepe yow fro all parelle,
Yf that hys wylle bee.
Madam, he seyde, be Jhesus,
Y have the erle of Tollous, 260
Our moost enemye ys hee.
Yn what manere, the lady can say,
Ys he comyn ? y the pray,
Anone telle thou me.
" Madam, y was in hys preson,
He hate forgevyn me my raunsom,
Be god full of myght ;
And all ys for the love of the.
The sothe ys he longyth yow to sec,
Madam, onys in syght.
Metrical Rofnances. 1 1 3
An hundurd povvnde y have to mede,
And armour for a nobull stede ;
For sothe y have hym hyght,
That he schall see yow at hys fylle,
Ryght at hys owne wylle,
Ther to my trowthe y plyght.
Lady, he ys to us a foo,
Therfore y rede that we hym sloo,
He hath done us grete grylle."
The lady seyde, So mat y goo, 280
Thy soule ys loste yf thou do so,
Thy trowthe thou schalt fulfylle.
Sythe he forgaf the thy raunsora,
And lowsydd the owt of prison,
Do away thy wyckyd wylle ;
To-morne, when they rynge the mas-belle,
Brynge hym into my chapelle.
And thynke thou on no false slouthe.
There schall he see me at hys wylle.
Thy covenaunt to fulfylle, 290
Y rede the holde thy trowthe,
Certys, yf thou hym begyle.
Thy soule ys in grete peryle,
Syn thou hast made hym othe ;
Certys hyt were a traytory.
For to wayte hym velany.
Me thynkyth hyt were rowthc.
The knyght to the erie wentc,
Yn herte he helde hym foule schente.
For hys wyckyd thoght ; 300
He seyde, Syr, so mote y the,
To-morne thou schalt my lady see,
Therfore dysmay the noght.
When ye here the mas-belle,
Y schall hur brynge to the chapelle,
Thedur sche schall be broght.
Be the oryall-syde stonde thou stylle.
Then schalt thou see hur at thy wylle.
That ys so worthyly wroght.
V
•114 Ancient English
The erle scyde, Y holde the trewe, 310
And that schall the nevyr rewe.
As farre forthe as Y may.
Yn hys herte he waxe gladd,
Fyllc the vvyne, wyghtly he badd,
Thys goyth to my pay.
There be restyd that nyght,
On the morne he can hym dyght,
Yn armytes array ;
When they ronge to the masse,
To the chapell conne they passe, 32°
To see that lady gay.
They had stonden but a whyle.
The mowntaunse of halfe a myle,
Then came that lady free ;
Two erlys hur ladd,
Wondur rychely sche was cladd,
In gold and ryche perre.
Whan the crle sawe hur in syght,
Hym thoght sche was as bryght
Os blossome on the tree : 330
Of all the syghtys that ever he sye
Raysyd never none hys herte so hye,
Sche was so bryght of blee.
Sche stode stylle in that place.
And schewed opynly hur face.
For love of that knyght ;
He behelde yuly hur face,
He sware there, be goddys grace,
He sawe never none so bryght.
Hur eyen were gray as any glas, 340
Mowthe and nose schapen was
At all maner ryght ;
Fro the forhedd to the too,
Bettur schapen myght non goo,
Nor none semelyer yn syght.
Twyes sche turnyd hur abowte,
Bctwene the erlys that were stowte.
For the cric schulde hur see ;
Metrical Romances. i i
When sche spake wyth mylde stevyn,
Sche semyd an aungell of hevyn, 350
So feyre sche was of blee.
Hur syde longe, hur myddyll small,
Schouldurs, armes, therwythall,
Fayrer myght non bee ;
Hur hondys whyte as vvhallys bonne*
Wyth fyngurs longe and ryngys upon
Hur nayles bryght of blee.
When he had beholden hur welle,
The lady wente to hur chapell
Masse for to here ; 360
The erle stode on that odur syde,
Hys eyen fro hur myght he not hyde
So lovely sche was of chere.
He seyde, Lorde god, full of myght,
Leve y were so worthy a knyght
That y myght be hur fere ;
And that she no husbonde hadd,
All the golde that evyr god made
To me were not so dere.
When the masse come to ende, 370
The lady, that was feyre and hendc.
To the chaumbur can sche fare ;
* This allusion is not to what we now call 'wkalebune, which is well known to be
black, but to the i-uory of the horn or tooth of the Narivhal, or sea-unicorn, which
seems to have been mistaken for the iv/iale. The simile is a remarkable favourite :
Thus, in Syr Eglamour of Aruys : —
" The erle had no chylde but one,
A mayden as ivhlte as ivhalcs boneT
Again, in Syr hcmbras : —
His wyfe as -white as nvhal'es bone"
Again, in The Squyr of loiu degree: —
" Lady as ivKite as ivhales hone."
It even occurs in Skelton's and Surrc-y's Poems, and, what is still more extraordinary,
in Spenser's Fairie Slueene, and Shakspeare's Love's Labour Lost (if, in fact, that part
of it ever received the illuminating touch of our great dramatist). Steevens,
in his note on the last instance, observes that ivhales " is the Saxon genitive case,"
meaning that it requires to be pronounced a sa dissyllable (thus, ivhales, or, more
properly, lohalees), which it certainly is in every instance.
1 1 6 Ancient English
The erle syghed, and was full woo,
Owt of hys syght when sche schulde goo,
Hys mornyng was the mare.
The crle seyde, So god me save.
Of hur almcs he wolde crave,
Yf hur wylle ware ;
Myght y getc of that free
Eche a day hur to see, 380
Hyt wolde covyr me of my care.
The eric knclyd down anon rvght,
And askyd gode for god allmyght.
That dyed on the tree,
The emperes callyd a knyght :
Fourty floranse, that ben bryght,
Anone brynge thou mee.
To that armyte sche hyt payde.
Of on hyr fyngyr a rynge she layde
Amonge that golde so free ; 3CJ0
He thankyd hur ofte, as y yow say,
To the chaumbyr wente that lady gav,
There hur was Icvcste to bee.
The erle went home to hys ynnys.
And grete yoyc he begynnys.
When he founde the rynge ;
Yn hys herte he waxe blythe.
And kyssyd hyt fele sythe.
And seyde, My dere derlynge,
On thy fyngyr thys was, 400
Wele ys me y have thy grace.
Of the to have thys rynge ;
Yf evyr y gete grace of the quene.
That any love betwenc us bene,
Thys may be oure tokcnyng.
The erle, al so soone os hyt was day
Toke hys leve, and wentc hys way,
Home to hys cuntrc ;
Syr Trylabas he thanked faste,
Of thys dedc thou done me haste, aio
Well qwyt schall hyt bee.
Metrical Romances.
They kyssyd togedur as gode frende,
Syr Trylabas home can wende,
There evell mote he thee !
A traytory he thoght to doo,
Yf he myght come thertoo,
So schrewde in herte was hee.
Anon he callyd two knyghtys,
Hardy men at all syghtys,
Bothe were of hys kynne ; 420
Syrs, he seyde, wythowt fayle,
Yf ye wyl do be my counsayle,
Grete worschyp schulde ye vvynne.
Knowe ye the erle of Tollous ?
Moche harme he hath done us,
Hys boste y rede we blynne ;
Yf ye wyll do aftur my redd,
Thys day he schall be dedd.
So god me save fro synnc.
That oon knyght Kamiters, that odur Kaym 430
Falser men myght no man rayme,
Certys then were thoo ;
Syr Trylabas was the thryddc,
Hyt was no mystur them to bydd
Aftur the erle to goo.
At a brygge they hym met,
Wyth harde strokes they hym besett.
As men that were hys foo ;
The erle was a man of mayn.
Paste he faght them agayne, ,10
And soon he slew twoo.
The thrydd fiedd, and blewe out fastc.
The erle ovyrtoke hym at the laste,
Hys hedd he clofe in three ;
The cuntrey gedyrd abowtc hym faste,
And aftur hym yornc they chaste,
An hundurd there men myght see.
The erle of them was agaste,
At the laste fro them he paste,
Faync he was to flee ; , -o
1 1 8 Ancient English
From them he went into a waste,
To restc hym there he tokc hys caste,
A wery man was hec.
All the nyght in that foreste
The gentyll erle toke hys rcste.
He had no nodur woon ;
When hyt dawed he rose up soone.
And thankyd god that syttyth in trone,
That he had scapyd hys foon.
That day he travaylyd many a myle, 460
And ofte he was in grete parylle.
Be the way os he can gone,
Tyll he come to [a] fayre castell.
There hym was levyst to dwelle.
Was made of lyme and stone.
Of hys comyng, hys men were gladd,
Be ye mery, my men, he badd.
For nothyng ye spare ;
The emperour, wythowte lees,
Y trowe wyll let us be in pees, 470
And warre on us no mare.
Thus dwellyd the erle in that place,
Wyth game myrthe and grete solase,
Ryght OS hym levyst ware.
Let we now the erle alloon,
And speke we of dame Beulyboon,
How sche was caste in care.
The emperour lovyd hys wyfe,
Al so moche os hys own lyfe.
And more yf he myght ; 480
He chose two knyghtys that were hym dere,
Whedur that he were fcrre or nere,
To kepe hur day and nyght.
That oon hys love on hur caste.
So dud the todur at the laste,
Sche was feyre and bryght ;
Nothyr of othyr wyste ryght noght.
So dcrnc love on them wroght.
To dcthc they were nere dyght.
Metrical Romances. 1 1 9
So hyt befelle upon a day 490
That oiUKan to that othyr say,
Syr, al so muste y thee,
Methynkyth thou fadyst all away,
Os man that ys clongyn in clay,
So pale waxeth thy blee.
Then seyde that other, Y make a vowe,
Ryght so methynkyth fareste thou.
Why so evyr hyt bee ;
Telle me thy cause, why hyt ys.
And y schall telle the myn, y wys, 500
My trouthe y plyght to thee.
Y graunte, he seyde, wythowt fayle.
But loke hyt be trewe counsayle.
Therto hys trowthe he plyght.
He seyde. My lady the emperes.
For love of hur y am in grete dystresse,
To dethe hyt wyll me dyght.
Then seyde the othyr, Certenly,
Wythowte drede, so fare y
For that lady bryght ; 510
Syn owrc love ys on hur sett,
How myght owre bale beste be bett ?
Canste thou rede on ryght ?
Then seyde that othyr, be seynt John,
Bettur counsayle can y noon
Methynkyth then is thys ;
Y rede that oon of us twoo
Prevely to hur goo.
And pray hur of hur blys ;
Y myselfe wyll go hur tylle, 520
Yn case y may gete hur wylle.
Of myrthe schalt thou not mys ;
Thou schalt take us wyth the dcde,*
Leste thou us wrye sche wyll drede.
And graunte thy wylle, y wys.
* That is, ivlth the manner (a law-phrase, cum manu opere, cvesque le main ceu-vre),
fagrante delicto, or in the very act, and, in what the Scots called, in respect of their
dcer-stealers, the reid, or hiuidy, hand.
A7icient English
Thus they were at oon ascent,
Thys false thefe forthe wentc.
To vvytt the ladycs wylle ;
Yn chaumbyr he founde hyr so free,
He sett hym downc on hys knee, 530
Hys purpose to fulfylle.
Than spake that lady free,
Syr, y see now well be the.
Thou haste not all thy wylle ;
On thy sekenes now y sec,
Tell mc now thy prevytc,
Why thou mornyst so stylle.
Lady, he seyde, that durste y noght.
For all the godc that evyr was wroght,
Be grete god invysybylle ; 540
But on a bookc yf ye wyll swere
That ye schull not me dyskere,
Then were hyt possybyll.
Then seyde the lady. How may that bee,
That thou durste not tryste to mee ?
Hyt ys full orybylle :
Here my trowthe to the y plyght,
Y schall heyle the day and nyght,
Al so trewe as boke or belle.
"Lady, in yow ys all my tryste, 550
Inwardely y wolde ye wyste,
What payne y sufFur you fore ;
Y drowpe, y dare, nyght and day.
My wele, my wytt, ys all away,
But ye lene on my lore.
Y have yow lovyd many a day.
But to yow durste y nevyr say,
My mornyng ys the more ;
But ye do aftur my rede,
Ccrtenly y am but dede, 560
Of my lyfe ys no store."
Than answeryd that lovely lyfe,
Syr, wele thou wottyst y am a wyfe,
My lordc ys cmperourc.
Metrical Romances.
He chase the for a trewe knyght,
To kcpe me bothe day and nyght,
Undur thy socowre.
To do that dede yf y assente
Y were worthy to be brente.
And broght in grete doloure ; 57°
Thou art a tray tour in thy sawe,
Worthy to be hanged and to-drawe,
Be Mary that swete floure.
A, madam, seyde the knyght.
For the love of god almyglit,
Hereon take no hede,
Yn me ye may full wele tryste ay,
Y dud nothyng but yow to affray,
Al so god me spede,
Thynke, madam, your trowthe ys plyght, 580
To holde counsayle, bothe day and nyght.
Fully wythowte drede ;
Y aske mercy for goddys ore,
Hereof yf y carpe more
Let drawe me wyth a stede.
The lady seyde, Y the forgeve,
Al so longe os y leve,
Counsayle schall hyt bee ;
Loke thou be a trewe man,
In all thyng that thou can, 590
To my lorde so'free.
" Yys, lady, ellys dyd y wrongc.
For y have servyd hym longe,
And wele he hath qwytt mce."
Here of spake he no mare.
But to hys felowe can he fare.
There evyll must they the.
Thus to hys felowe ys he gon.
And he hym frayned anon,
Syr, how haste thou spcdd ? 600
Ryght noght, seyde that othyr,
Syth y was borne, lefe brothyr.
Was V ncvyr so adrcdd.
122 Amittn English
Certys hyt ys a botclcs bale
To hur to touche soche a tale,
At borde or at bedde.
Then sayde that odur, Thy wytt ys thymic,
Y myselfe schall hur wynnc,
Y lay my hcdd to wedde.
Thus hyt passyd ovyr, os y you say, 610
Tyl aftur, on the thrydde day,
Thys knyght hym bethoght,
Certys, spcde os y may,
My ladyes wylle that ys so gay,
Hyt schalle be thorowly soght.
When he sawe hur in beste mode.
Sore syghyng to hur he yode.
Of lyfe os he ne roght :
Lady, he seyde, wythowte fayle,
But ye helpe me wyth yowre counsayle, 62c
Yn bale am y broght.
Sche answeryd full curtcsly.
My counsayle schall be redy,
Telle me how hyt ys.
When y wott worde and cnde,
Yf my counsayle may hyt mendc,
Hyt schall, so have y blysse.
Lady, he seyde, y undurstonde
Ye muste holde up yowre honde
To holde counsayle, y wys. 630
Yys, seyde the lady free,
Therato my trouthe here to the,
And ellys y dude amys.
Madam, he seyde, now y am in tryste.
All my lyfe thogh ye wyste,
Ye wolde me not dyskere ;*
For you y am in so grctc thoght,
Yn moche bale y am broght,
Wythowte othe y swere :
And yc may full wcle see 640
How pale y am of blec,
Y dye nere for dere ;
* Original reading : drskttter.
Metrical Romancei. 1 2 3
Dere lady, graunt me youre love,
For the love of god that sytteth above,
That stongen was wyth a spere.
Syr, sche seyde, ys that youre wyllc ?
Yf hyt were myne then dyd y ylle ;
What woman holdyst thou me ?
Yn thy kcpeyng y have ben.
What haste thou herde be me or sene 650
That touchyth to any velanye ?
That thou in herte art so bolde,
Os y were a hore, or a scolde :
Nay that schall nevyr bee.
Had y not hyght to holde counsayle.
Thou schouldest be honged, wythowt fayle.
Upon a galowe-tree.
The knyght was never so sore aferde,
Syth he was borne in myddyllerd,
Certys os he was thoo : 660
Mercy, he seyde, gode madam !
Wele y wott y am to blame,
Therfore myn herte ys woo ;
Lady, let me not be spylte,
Y aske mercy of my gylte,
On lyve ye let me goo.
The lady seyde, Y graunte wele
Hyt schall be counseyle every dele,
But do no more soo.
Now the knyght forthe yede, 670
And seyde, Felowe, y may not spcde.
What ys thy beste redd ?
Yf sche telle my lorde of thys.
We be but dedd, so have y blys,
Wyth hym be we not fedd :
Womans tongue ys evell to tryste,
Certys and my lordc hyt wyste,
Etyn were all owre bredd.
Felow, so mote y ryde or goo.
Or sche wayte us wyth that woo, 680
Hur sclfe schall be dcdd.
I 2 4. Ancient English
How myght that be? that othur sayde,
Yn herte y wolde be wele payde,
Myght we do that dede.
Yys, syr, he seyde, so have y roo,
Y schall bryngc hur weJe thertoo,
Therof have thou no drede ;
Or hyt passe dayes three
In mekyll sorowe schall sche bee.
Thus y schall qwyte hur hur medc. 690
Now are they bothe at oon assente,
In sorow to brynge that lady gente ;
The devell mote them spede !
Sone hyt drowe toward nyght,
To soper they can them dyght.
The emperes and they all.
The two knyghtys grete yapys made,
For to make the lady glade.
That was bothe gentyll and small ;
When the soper tyme was done, 700
To the chaumbyr they went soone,
Knyghtys cladd in palle.
They daunsed and revelyd os they noght dredd
To brynge the lady to hur bedde,
There foule must them falle.
That oon thefe callyd a knyght.
That was carver to that lady bryght,
An erleys sone was hee.
He was a feyre chylde, and a bolde.
Twenty wyntur he was oolde, 710
In londe was none so free.
" Syr, wylt thou do os we the say .?
And we schall ordeygne us a play,
That my lady may see ;
Thou schalt make hur to lagh soo,
Thogh sche were gretly thy fbo.
Thy frende schuld sche bee."
The chylde answcryd anon ryght.
Be the ordur y bcre of knyght,
Therof woldc v be fayne ; 720
Metrical Romances.
And hyt wolde my lady plese,
Thogh hyt wolde me dysese,
To renne yn wynde and rayne.
" Syr, make the naked, save thy breke.
And behynde the yondur curtayn thou crepe,
And do OS y schall sayne ;
Then schalt thou see a yoly play."
Y graunte, thys yong knyght can say.
Be god and seynt Jermayne.
Thys chylde thoght on no ylle, 73°
Of he caste hys clothys stylle,
And behynde the curtayn he went ;
They seyde to hym, what so befalle,
Come not owt tyll wee thee calle ;
And he seyde, Syrs, y assente.
They revelyd forthe a grete whyle.
No man wyste of ther gyle,
Save they two veramente ;
They voyded the chaumber sone anon,
The chylde they lafte syttyng alone, 740
And that lady gente.
Thys lady lay in bedd on slepe.
Of treson toke sche no kepe.
For therof wyste sche noght ;
Thys chylde had wonder ever among
Why these knyghtys were so longe,
He was in many a thoght :
" Lorde, mercy, how may thys bee !
Y trowe they have forge ton me
That me hedur broght ; 750
Yf y them calle sche wyll be adredd,
My lady lyeth here in hur bedde,
Be hym that all hath wroght."
Thus he sate stylle as any stone.
He durst not store, nor make no mone.
To make the lady afryght ;
Thes false men, ay worthe them woo ?
To hur chambur can they goo.
And armyd them full ryght.
//'
126 Jncient Engliih
Lordys owte of bedd can they calle, 760
And badd arme them grete and smalle;
"Anone that yc were dyght ;
And helpe to take a false traytour.
That with my lady, in hur boure,
Hath playde hym al thys nyght."
Sone they armyd everychone,
And with these traytours can they gone,
The lordys that there wore ;
To the emperes chaumbcr they cam ryght,
Wyth torchys and wyth swerdys bryght.
Brennyng them before.
Bchynde the curtayne they wente,
The yong knyght, verrament,
Nakyd found they thore ;
That oon thefe wyth a swerde of were
Thorow the body he can hym bere,
That worde spake he no more.
The lady woke, and was afryght,
Whan sche sawe the grete lyght.
Before hur beddys syde, 780
Sche seyde, BeneJycyte !
Syrs, what men be yee ?
And wonder lowde sche crycdd.
Hur enemyes mysansweryd thorc,
We are here, thou false hore,
Thy dedys we have aspyedd ;
Thou has'te betrayed my lorde.
Thou schalt have wonduryng in thys worde,
Thy loos schall sprynge wj'de.
The lady seyde. Be seynte John, 790
Hore was y ncvyr none.
Nor nevyr thoght to bee.
Thou lyest, they seyde, thy love ys lorne,
The corse they leyde hur beforne ;
Lo here ys thy lemman free :
Thus we have for the hym hytt.
Thy horedam schall be wele qwytte.
Fro us schalt thou not flee.
Metrical Romances. \ 2
They bonde the lady wondyr faste,
And in a depe preson hur caste, 800
Grete dele hyt was to see.
Leve we now thys lady in care.
And to hur lorde wyll we fare,
That ferre was hur froo :
On a nyght, wythowt lette,
In hys slepe a swevyn he mett,
The story telleth us soo :
Hym thoght ther come two wylde berys.
And hys wyfe al to-terys.
And rofe hur body in twoo ; 810
Hymselfe was a wytty man,
And be that dreme he hopyd than
Hys lady was in woo.
Yerly when the day was clere.
He bad hys men all in fere,
To buske and make them yare ;
Somer-horsys he let go before.
And charyettys stuffud wyth store,
Wele twelve myle and more.
He hopud wele in hys herte 820
That hys wyfe was not in querte,
Hys herte therfore was in care ;
He stynted not tyll he was dyght,
Wyth erlys, barons and many a knyght,
Homeward can they fare.
Nyght ne day nevyr they blanne,
Tyll to that cyte they came
There the lady was ynne,
Wythowt the cyte lordys them kepyd.
For wo in herte many oon wepyd, 830
There teerys myght they not blynne.
They supposyd wele yf he hyt wyste
That hys wyfe had seche a bryste
Hys yoye wolde be full thynne.
They ladden stedys to the stall,*
And the lorde into the hallc.
To worschyp hym wyth wynne.
* Original reading: stfihyll.
AncUnt English
Anon to the chaumbur wcndyth he.
He longyd hys feyre lady to see.
That was so swete a wyght ; 840
He callyd them that schoulde hur kepe,
Where ys my wyfe ? ys sche on slepe ?
How fareth that byrde bryght ?
The two traytours answeryd anon,
Yf ye wyste how sche had done.
To dethe sche schulde be dyght.
A, devyll ! he seyde, how soo ?
To dethe that sche ys worthy to goo,
Telle me in what manere.
Syr, he ieyde, be goddys ore, 850
The yonge knyght, syr Antorc,
That was hur kervere.
Be that lady he hath layne,
And therforc we have him slayne.
We founde them in fere.
Sche ys in preson, verrament.
The lawe wyll that sche be brentc,
Be god that boght us dere.
Alias ! seyde the emperoure.
Hath sche done me thys dyshonoure, 860
And y lovyd hur so wele ?
y wende, for all thys worldys gode
That sche wolde not have turned hur mode ;
My yoye begynnyth to keele.*
He hente a knyfe wyth all hys mayn,
Had not a knyght ben he had hym slayn,
And that traytour have broght owt of hcele ;
For bale hys armes abrode he bredd,
And fell in swowne upon hys bedd ;
There myght men see grete dele. 870
On the morne, be oon assent.
On hur they sett a parlyament.
Be all the comyn rede ;
They myght not finde in ther counsayle.
Be no lawe, wythowt faylc.
To save hur fro the dede.
* Original reading : k.Le.
Metrical Romances. 129
Then bespake an olde knyght,
Y have wondur, be goddys rayght,
That syr Antore thus was bestedd ;
In chaumbyr thogh they naked were, 880
They let hym gyf none answere,
But slowe hym, be my hedd.
Ther was nevyr man, sekurly,
That be hur founde any velany.
Save they two, y dar wele say ;
Be some hatered hyt may be,
Therfore doyth aftur me,
For my love y yow pray.
No mo wyll prove hyt but they twoo,
Therfore we may not save hur fro woo, 890
For sothe, os y yow say.
In hyr quarell but we myght fynde
A man that were gode of kynde.
That durst fyght agayn them tway.
All they assentyd to the sawe.
They thoght he spake reson and lawe.
Then answeryd the kyng wyth crowne,
Fayre falle the for thyn avyse ;
He callyd knyghtys of nobyll pryce.
And badd them be redy bowne, 900
For to crye, thorow all the londc,
Bothe be see, and be sonde,
Yf they fynde mowne
A man that ys so moche of myght
That for that lady dar take the fyght,
He schall have hys wareson.
Messangerys, y undurstonde,
Cryed thorow all the londe.
In many a ryche cytc,
Yf any man durste prove hys myght, 910
In trewe quarell for to fyght,
Wele avaunsed schulde he be.
The erle of Tullous harde thys telle.
What anger the lady befelle.
Thereof he thoght grcte pyte ;
R
130 Ancient English
Yf he wyste that sche had ryght,
He wolde aventure hys lyfe ro fyght
For that lady free.
For hur he morned nyght and day, H
And to hymselfe can he say _ 920
He wolde aventure hys lyfe :
" Yf y may wytt that sche be trewe, I
They that have hur accused schull rewc,
But they stynte of ther stryfe."
The erle seyde, Be seynte John,
Ynto Alraayn wyll y goon,
Where y have fomen ryfe ;
I prey to god full of myght,
That y have trewe quarell to fyght,
Owt of wo to Wynne that wyfe, 930
He rode on huntyng on a day,
A marchand mett he be the way.
And asked hym of whens he was.
Lorde, he seyde, of Almayn.
Anon the erle can hym frayne
Of that ylke case :
" Wherefore ys yowre emperes
Put in so grete dystresse ?
Telle me for goddys grace ;
Ys sche gylte, so mote thou the ?" 940
" Nay, be hym that dyed on tree.
That schope man aftur hys face."
Then seyde the erle, wythowte lett
When ys the day sett
Brente that sche schulde bee?
The marchande seyde, Sekyrlyke,
Evyn thys day thre wyke,
And therfore wo ys mee.
The erle seyde, Y schall the telle,
Gode horsys y have to sellc, 95©-
And stedys two or thro ;
Certys, myght y selle them yare,
Thcdur wyth the wolde y fare.
That syght for to see.
Metrical Romances. 1 3 i
The marchand seyd wordys hende,
Into the londe yf ye wyll wende,
Hyt wolde be for yowre prowe ;
There way ye selle them at your wylle.
Anon the erle seyde hym tylle,
Syr, herken me nowe ; 960
Thys yurney wylt thou wyth me dwelle ?
Twenty pownde y schall thee telle.
To mede y make a vowe.
The marchand grauntyd anon.
The erle seyde, Be seynt John,
Thy wylle y alowe.
The erle tolde hym in that tyde
Where he schulde hym abyde,
And homeward wente hee ;
He busked hym that no man wyste, 970
For mekyll on hym was hys tryste :
He seyde, Syr, go wyth mee.
Wyth them they toke stedys sevyn,
Ther were no fayrer* undyr hevyn,
That any man myght see :
Into Almayn they can ryde ;
As a coresur of mekyll pryde
He semyd for to bee.
The marchand was a trewe gyde.
The erle and he togedur can ryde, 980
Tyll they came to that place ;
A myle besyde the castell
There the emperour can dwelle
A ryche abbey ther was.
Of the abbot leve they gatt
To soyorne, and make ther horsys fatt ;
That was a nobyll cas :
The abbot was the ladyes erne,
For hur he was in grete wandreme,
\ And moche mornyng he mase. 990
So hyt be felle upon a day
To churche the erle toke the way,
A masse for to here ;
* Original reading : faye.
132 Ancient English
He was a fayre man and an hye.
When the abbot hym syc,
He seyde, Syr, come nere ;
Syr, when the masse ys done,
Y pray yow etc wyth me at noone,
Yf youre wyllc were.
The erle grauntyd all wyth game, 1000
Afore mete they wysche all same.
And to mete they wente in fere.
Aftur mete, as y yow say,
Into an orchard they toke the way.
The abbot and the knyght ;
The abbot seyde, and syghed sare,
Certys, syr, y leve in care
For a lady bryght.
Sche ys accusyd, my hcrte ys woo.
Therefore sche schall to dethe goo, loio
All agayne the ryght ;
But sche have helpe, verrament,
In fyre sche schall be brente, ,
Thys day sevenyght.
The erle seyde. So have y blysse.
Of hyr methynkyth grete rewthe hyt ys,
Trewe yf that sche bee.
The abbot seyde. Be seynte Poule,
For hur y dar ley my soule.
That never gylte was sche ; 1020
Soche werkys new sche wroght,
Neythyr in dede, nor in thoght.
Save a ryngc so free,
To the erle of Tullous sche gafe hyt wyth wynne,
Yn ese of hym, and for no synne,
In schryfte thus tolde sche me.
The erle saydc, Syth hyt ys soo,
Cryste wreke hur of hur woo,
That boght hur wyth hys bloode !
Wolde ye sekyr me, wythowt fayle, 1030
For to holde trewe counsayle,
Hyt myght be for youre gode.
Metrical Romances. 133
The abbot seyde, be bokes fele,
And be hys professyon, that he wolde hele,
And ellys he were wode.
" Y am he that sche gaf the rynge,
For to be oure tokenynge,
Now heyle hyt for the rode.
Y am comyn, lefe syr,
To take the batayle for hyr, 1040
There to stonde wyth ryght.
But fyrste myselfe y wole hur schryve,
And yf y fynde hur clene of lyvc,
Then wyll my herte be lyght.
Let dyght me in monkys wede.
To that place that men schulde hyr lede,
To dethe to be dyght ;
When y have schrevyn hyr wythowt fayle,
For hur y wyll take batayle,
As y am trewe knyght." 1050
The abbot was never so gladd,
Nere for yoye he waxe madd,
The erle can he kysse ;
They made mere, and slewe care.
All that sevenyght he dwellyd thare,
Yn myrthe wythowt mysse.
That day that the lady schulde be brent
The erle wyth the abbot wente,
In monkys wede, y wys ;
To the emperour he knelyd blyve, 1060
That he myght that lady schryve.
Anon receyved he ys.
He cxamyned hur wyttyrly,
As hyt seythe [in] the story,
Sche was wythowte gylte,
Sche seyde. Be hym that dyed on tree,
Trespas was never none in me,
Wherefore y schulde be spylte ;
Save oonys, wythowte lesynge,
To the erle of Tollous y gafe a rynge ; 1070
Assoyle me yf thou wylte ;
r'34- Ancient English
But thus my destanye is comyn to ende,
That in thys fyre y muste be brende,
There godd wylle be fulfyllyt.
The erle assoyled hur wyth hys honde,
And sythen pertely he can up stonde.
And seyde, Lordyngys pese !
Ye that have accused thys lady gente,
Ye be worthy to be brente.
That oon knyght made a rees, 1080
Thou carle monke, wyth all thy gynne,
Thowe youre abbot be of her kynne,
Hur sorowe schalt thou not cees ;
Ryght so thou woldest sayne,
Thowe all youre covent had be hyr layn,
So are ye lythyr and lees.
The erle answeryd, wyth wordys free,
Syr, that oon y trowe thou bee
Thys lady accused has ;
Thowe we be men of relygon, 1090
Thon schalt do us but reson,
For all the fare thou mas.
Y prove on hur thou sayst not ryght,
Lo here my glove wyth the to fyght,
Y undyrtake thys case ;
Os false men y schall yow kenne,
Yn redd fyre for to brenne,
Therto god gyf me grace.
AI that stoden in that place
Thankyd god of hys grace, I 100
Wythowte any fayle.
The two knyghtys were full wrothe,
He schulde be dedd they swere grete othe :
But hyt myght not avayle.
The erle wente there-besyde.
And armyd hyra wyth mekyll pryde,
Hys enemyes to assayle ;
Manly when they togedur mett.
They hewe thorow helme and basenet.
And martyrd many a mayle. 1 1 10
Metrical Romances 1 3 5
They redyn togedur wythowt kick.
That hys oon spere on hym brakk,
That othyr faylyd thoo ;
The erle smote hym wyth hys spere,
Thorow the body he can hym here,
To grounde can he goo.
That sawe that odyr, and faste can flee,
The erle ovyrtoke hym undyr a tre,
And wroght hym mekyll woo.
There thys traytour can hym yylde, 1 120
Os recreaunt yn the fylde,
He myght not fle hym froo.
Before the emperour they wente,
And ther he made hym, verrament.
To telle for the noonys ;
He seyde, We thoght hur to spylle,
For sche wolde not do ourc wylle,
That worthy ys in wonnys.
The erle answeryd hym then,
Therfore, traytours, ye schall brenne 113^
Yn thys fyre, bothe at onys.
The erle anon hym hente,
And in the fyre he them brente,
Flesche, felle, and boonys.
When they were brent bothe twoo,
The erle prevely can goo
To that ryche abbaye,
Wyth yoye and processyon
They fett the lady into the towne,
Wyth myrthe, os y telle may. 1140
The emperoure was full gladd,
Fette me the monke, anon he badd.
Why wente he so awaye ?
A byschoperyke y wyll hym geve.
My helpe, my love, whyll y leve,
Be god that owyth thys day.
The abbot knelyd on hys knee.
And seyde, Lorde, gone ys hee
To hys owne londe ;
136 Ancient English
— _ ^
He dvvellyth wyth the pope of Rome, 1 150
He wyll be gladd of hys come,
Y do yow to undurstonde.
Syr, quod the empcrourc.
To me hyt were a dyshonoure,
Sochc wordes y rede thou wonde ;
Anone yn haste that y hym sec,
Or thou schalt nevyr have gode of rac,
And therto here myn honde.
Lorde, he seyde, svthe hyt ys suo,
Aftur hym that y muste goo, 1160
Ye muste make me sewrte,
Yn case he have byn youre foo.
Ye schall not do hym no woo,
And then, al so mote y thee,
Aftur hym y wyll wynde.
So that ye wyll be hys frende,
Yf youre wylle bee.
Yys, seyde the emperoure full fayne,
All my kynne thogh he had slayne.
He ys welcome to mee. 11 70
Then spake the abbot wordys free,
Lorde, y tryste now on thee.
Ye wyll do os ye sey ;
Hyt ys syr Barnard of Tollous,
A nobyll knyght and a chyvalrous,
That hath done thys jurney.
Now certys, seyde the emperoure.
To me hyt ys grete dyshonoure ;
Anon, syr, y the pray,
Aftur hym that thou wende, 11 80
Wc schall kyssc and be gode frende.
Be god that owyth thys day.
The abbot seyde, Y asscnte ;
Aftur the erle anon he wente.
And seyde, Syr, go wyth mee ;
My lorde and ye, be scynt John,
Schull be made bothe at oon,
Goode frendys for to bee.
Metrical Romances
Thereof the erle was full fayne,
The emperoure came hym agayne, 1190
And sayde, My frende so free,
My wrath here y the forgeve,
My helpe, my love, whyll y leve.
Be hym that dyed on tree.
Togedur lovely can they kyssc,
Therof all men had gretc blysse,
The romaunse tellyth soo ; —
He made hym steward of hys londe,
And sesyd agayne into hys honde
That he had rafte hym froo. 1200
The emperoure levyd but yerys thre.
Be alexcion of the lordys free
The erle toke they thoo.
They made hym ther emperoure,
For he was styiFe yn stoure,
To fyght agayne hys foo.
He weddyd that lady to hys wyfe,
Wyth yoye and myrthe they ladd thcr lyfe,
Twenty yere and three ;
Betwene them had they chylder fyftene 1210
Doghty knyghtys all bedene.
And semely on to see.
Yn Rome thys geste ys cronycglyd, y wys,
A lay of Bretayne callyd hyt ys,*
And evyr more schall bee.
Jhesu Cryste to hevyn us brynge,
There to have owre wonnyng :
Amen, amen, for charytee !
See Emare, 'V. 103c, and the note npon that passage.
THE SQUYR OF LOWE DEGREE,
This strange and whimsical, but genuine English, performance is
here given from a copy in quarto and black letter, without date
"Imprented at London by me Wyllyam Copland," extant among
Garrick's old plays, now in the British Museum (K. vol. 9).
That it was printed before 1575 is evident from Lanehara's
" Letter," already mention'd ; and in fact, as Copeland died in
1568, or 1569, could not be later than one of those years. It was,
moreover, licensed to John Kynge, on the loth of June 1560;
and, from the apparent modernisation of the printed copy, seems
of much greater antiquity. Spenser, in his " Faery quene," has
introduced "The squire of lowe degree;" and, in Shakspeare's
play of King Henry the Fifth, Captain Fluellan says to ancient
Pistol, "You call'd me yesterday mountain squire, but i wil make
you to-day a squire of lowe degre" (Act V., scene i). These
allusions prove, at least, the popularity of the poem ; its age, how-
ever, cannot be easily ascertained ; for though it has been thought
even anterior in point of date to the time of Chaucer, it is never
mentioned by any one writer before the sixteenth century ; nor
is it known to be extant in manuscript ; and, in fact, the Museum
copy is the only one that exists in print.
Ancient English Metrical Romances. i 39
THE SQUYR OF LOWE DEGRE.
It was a squyer of lowe degre *
That loved the kings doughter of Hungre.
The squir was curteous and hend,
Ech man him loved and was his frend ;
He served the kyng, her father dere,
Fully the tyme of seven yere ;
For he was marshall of his hall,
And set the lords both great and snial.
An hardy man he was, and wight.
Both in hatayle and in fyght ;
But ever he was styll mornyng,
And no man wyste for what thyng ;
And all was for that lady.
The kynges doughter of Hungry,
There wyste no wyghte in Christent^
Howe welle he loved that lady frc.
He loved her more then seven yere.
Yet was he of her love never the nere.
He was not ryche of golde and fc,
A gentyll man forsoth was he.
To no man durst he make his mone.
But syghed sore hym selfe alone.
And evermore, whan he was wo.
Into his chambre would he goo ;
And through the chambre he toke the waye.
Into the gardyn, that was full gaye ;
* A squire was a state or condition inferior and, generally speaking, preparatory
to that of a knight, upon whom the squire attended in the nature of a servant ;
having the care of his horse and armour, dressing and undressing him ; and carving
his meat and serving him with bread and wine at table. See " Memoires sur
I'Ancienne Chevalerie," tome I., p. 11, &c. A most curious and interesting account
of the education, employments, and progress of a page, varlet, or squire, will be found
in "L'Histoire et Plaisante Cronicque du Petit Jehan de Saintre," an excellent
romance of the fifteenth century (Pnris, 1523, 1724).
1^.0 Ande7it English
And in the garden, as i wene,
Was an arber fayrc and grcnc.
And in the arber was a tre,*
A fayrer in the world might none be ; 30
The tre it was of cyprcssc,
The fyrst tre that Jesu chesc ;
* Warton, who conjectures this poem to be " col'val with Chaucer," says, in a
note, " From this passage, and another of the same sort, an ingenious correspondent '
has taken occasion to consider Chaucer's "Rime of Sir Thopas" in a new light ;
and transcribes his words. " The rhyme of Sir Thopas was intended by Chaucer as a
kind of burlesque on the old ballad-romances ; many of which he quotes.
Now, in these old romances nothing is so common as impertinent digressions, con-
taining affected enumerations of trees, birds, &c. There is a specimen of the
former in an old romance, intitled 'The squyer of lowe degre;'- where it is
remarkable that the author has reckoned the lily, the piany, the sother-wood, &c.,
as trees. With the same accuracy the pie, the popinjay, the sparrow, &c., are
clashed among the singing birds in the lines which immediately follow the list of
trees. . . . From these lines we shall easily perceive the drift of Chaucer's
humour in the following stanzas of Sir Thopas : —
There springen herbes grete and smal,
The lycores and the setuall,
And many a clove gelofer.
And nutmeges to put in ale,
Whether it be new or stale.
Or for to lie in cofer.
The birdes singen. it is no naie,
The sperhawke and the popinjaye,
That joye it was to here ;
The throstell eke made his laye.
The wood-cocke upon the spraye,
She song full loud and clere.
The "ingenious correspondent" adds that Speght and Urryhave ''substituted woode-
larke instead of wood-cock, not considering that Chaucer is jocose." Tyrwhitt's
edition, however, indisputably the best, reads wood dove ; and as Lybeaus Disconus,
one of the romances enumerated by Chaucer, is alluded to in "The squyr of lowe
degre," it is not, probably, also of his age. (See ''Observations on the Fairy queen,"
J-, 139)-
Bottom, the weaver, in Shakspeare's *' Midsummer Night's Dream," after he
" This ingenious correspondent turns out to be Mr., afterwards Dr. Percy, since Dean of Carlisle,
and Bishop of Dromorc. See a note in his " Reliques of Ancient English Poetry," London, 1794,
III., xxiii.
'^ Though this " ingc.ious correspondent " has alrjady said that, in what he pleased to call "the
old ballad romances," nothing is so common as these impertinent digressions and enumerations, he
was not able to produce a single instince, except "The Squyr of lowe degre," which, .after all, is not
proved to he one of these "old ballad-romaiiccs; " nojie of wliich, in fact, contains any such imper-
lin.-]iccs.
Metrical Romatices. 1 4 1
The sother-wood, and sykamoure,*
The reed rose, and the lyly-floure,
The boxe, the beche, and the larel-tre,
The date, also the damyse,
The fylbyrdes hangyng to the ground,
The fygge-tre, and the maple round.
And other trees there was mane ane,t
The pyany, the popler, and the plane, 40
With brode braunches all abowte.
Within the arbar, and eke withoute ;
On every braunche sate byrdes thre,
Syngynge with great melody,
The lavorocke, and the nyghtyngale.
The ruddocke, the woodwale.
The pee, and the popinjaye.
The thrustele sangej both nyght and daye,
The marlyn, and the wrenne also.
The swalowe whippynge to and fro, 50
The jaye jangled them amonge,||
The larke began that mery songe.
The sparowe spredde her on her spraye.
The mavys songe with notes full gaye,
The nuthake with her notes newe.
The sterlynge set her notes full trewe,
has received Robin Goodfellow's favour of an ass's head, sings part of one of these
"old ballad-romances," to convince his companions, whom he supposes to be within
her.ring, that he is not afraid —
"The woosel cocke, so blaclce of hew,
With orange-tawny bill.
The throstle, with his note so true,
The wren with little quill ;
The finch, the sparrow, and the larke,
The plainsong cuckow grey ;
Whose note full many a man doth marke,
And dares not answer, nay. '
During the performance of this singular melody, the Queen of the Fairies, allured out
of her nap by such liarmonious strains, exclaims,
" What angel wakes me from my flnw'ry bed."
* Original reading : lycamouie. f Ori-inal reading : one.
"^ Original reading : sayiige.
II Thus in The Cherrle and the S/ae :
"The jargon jf the jangling jays.'
142 Ancient English
The goldefynche made full mery chcrc,
Whan she was bente upon a brerc,
And many other foules mo,
The osyll, and the thrusshc also ; 60
And they sangc wyth notes clere.
In confortynge that squycre ;
And evermore, whan he was wo,
In to that arber wolde he go,
And under a bente he layde hym lowe,
Ryght even under her chambre wyndowc ;
And lened hys backe to a thorne.
And sayd, Alas, that i was borne !
That i were ryche of gold* and fe.
That i myght wedde that lady fre ! 70
Of golde good, or some treasure.
That i myght wedde that lady floure !
Or elles come of so gentyll kynne.
The ladyes love that i myght wynne !
Wolde god that i were a kynges sonne.
That ladyes love that i myght wonne!
Or els so bolde in eche fyght.
As was syr Lybius that gentell knyght.
Or els so bolde in chyvalry.
As syr Gawayne, or syr Guy ! 80
Or els so doughty of my hande
As was the gyaunte syr Colbrande ! t
Again, in The Houlate, a still more ancient poem, by Holland :
" Thus jowkit with juxters the janglane ja."
Again, in Wedderburn's Ccmplaitite of Scotland, St. Andrews, 1549; " the jargolyne of
the suallou gart the. jay jangil,'^
* Original reading : fnildy.
•|- This Colbrond was a Danish giant, whom Sir Guy, earl of Warwick, like
another David, fought in single combat, defeated, and slew. The combat is elabo-
rately described by Robert of Gloucester, and Henry de Knyghton, the historians,
and Michael Drayton, the poet, each of whom, no doubt, was indebted to the old
English romance of " Sir Guy," or the Latin one of a certain imaginary Girardus
Cornublcnsh, for whom see Hearne's appendix to the Chronkon de Dunstaph, Num. XI.
and who was translated, in drawling stanzas of balade royal, by Dan John Lydgate,
monk of Bury ; though it happens not to be mentioned by any historical writer of
or near the time of action. Waiton, indeed, an admirable judge, to be sure, of
literary antiquities! seems to have no doubt of both Bevis and Guy being ''English
heros," and actually refers, for the latter, to '■'■Will. Malmess. Gest Angl. ii. 6." where
it would, probably, be somewhat difficult to find him. Camden, indeed, a professed
anticuary, and even the more learned Selden,are nearly as credulous as "honest Tom."
Metrical Romances. 143
And [it] were put in jeoperde,*
What man shoulde wynne that lady frc,
Than should no man have her but i,
The kinges doughter t of Hungry.
But ever he seyde, Wayleawaye !
For poverte passeth all my paye !
And, as he made thys rufull chere,
He sowned dovvne in that arbere, 90
That lady herde his mournyng all,
Ryght under the chambre wall ;
In her oryall there she was.
Closed well with royall glas,
Fulfylled it was with ymagery.
Every wyndowe by and by.
On eche syde had there a gynne,
Sperde with many a dyvers pynne.
Anone that lady, fayre and fre,
Undyd a pynne of yvere, 100
And wyd the wyndowes she open set.
The sunne shone in at her closet.
In that arber fayre and gaye
She sawe where that squyre lay.
The lady said to hyn anone,
Syr, why makest thou that mone ?
And whi thou mournest night and day ?
Now tell me, squyre, i thee pray ;
And, as i am a true lady.
Thy counsayl shall i never dyscry; 1 10
And, yf it be no reprefe to thee,
Thy bote of bale yet shall i be :
And often was he in welc and wo.
But never so well as he was tho.
The squyer set hym on hys kne,
And sayde. Lady, it is for thee,
I have thee loved this seven yere,
And bought thy love, lady, full dere.
Ye are so ryche in youre aray,
That one word to you i dare not say, 120
And come ye be of so hye kynne,
No worde of love durst i begynne.
* Original reading: ieopede. -f- Original reading: goughter.
14+ Ancient English
My wyll to you yf i had sayde.
And ye therwith not well apayde,
Ye might have bewraicd me to the kinge,
And brought me sone to my endyngc.
Therfore, my lady, fayre and fre,
I durst not shewe my harte to thee ;
But I am here, at your wyll,
Whether ye wyll me save or spyll ; i 30
For all the care i have in be
A worde of you might comfort me ;
And, yf ye wyll not do so.
Out of this land i must nedes go ;
I wyll forsake both lande and ledc,
And become an hcrmyte in uncouth stede ;
In many a lande to begge my bread.
To seke where Christ was quicke and dead ;
A stafFe i wyll make me of my spere,
Lynen cloth i shall none were ; * 140
Ever in travayle i shall wende,
Tyll i come to the worldes ende ;
And, lady, bnt thou be my bote,
There shall no sho come on my fote ;
Therfore, lady, i the praye,
For hym that died on good frydaye.
Let me not in daunger dwell.
For his love that harowed hell.f
* He means, in fact, to become a pilgrim, not "an hermyte," the former being a
vagabond, the latter stationary ; and, instead of a linen shirt, would wear one of
hair or woolen ; as such like ignorant and despicable enthusiasts were wont to do.
Thus, Sir Armado, in Lcntes Labour Lest, says, "The naked truth of it is, I have no
skirt ; I go ivoolivard for penance."
Again, in Tivaine and Gaivaln, V. 267 ;
" It was a wonder wede,
That the cherle yn yede,
Nowther of nvol , ne of //««."
+ This means Jesus Christ, who, in the interval between his crucifixion and
ascension, is said, in the apostles* creed, to have "descended into hell." This visitation
is related, most at large, in Nichodemus's Gospel. In Hearne's appendix to Fordun's
Scotkhronkon (p. 1482-3), is a singular engraving from an old illumination, in which
" Ihcsus Christus {resurgens a mortuts spoliat infernum" not Saint Patrick, as Dr. Johnson
mistakes) " is represented," as he says, "visiting hell, and putting the devils into great
confusion... of whom one... [with a prong and a horn] has a label issuing out of his
mouth, with these words, " ©ut OUt Orongft!" (Note m S/iakespeare, 1793, VII.
34.2,) The harowlng of hel (which seems to mean sacking or plundering, as Christ
Metrical R omcmces . 145
Than sayd that lady, milde of mode,
Ryght in her closet* there she stode, 150
By hym that dyed on a tre,
Thou shalt never be deceyved for me ;
Thou i for thee should be slayne,
Squyer, i shall the loye agayne.
Go forth, and serve my father the kynge,
And let be all thy styl mournynge ;
Let no man wete that ye were here,
Thus all alone in my arbere ;
If ever ye wyll come to your vvyll,
Here and se, and holde you styll. 160
Beware of the stewarde, i you praye.
He wyll deceyve you and he maye ;
For, if he wote of your woyng.
He wyl bewraye you unto the kynge ;
Anone for me ye shall be take.
And put in pryson for my sake ;
Than must ye nedes abyde the lawe,
Peraventure both hanged and drawe ;
That syght on you i would not se.
For all the golde in Christente. 170
For, and ye my love should wynne.
With chyvalry ye must begynne,t
goes armed with his cross and releases Adam, his children and all the saints) is
frequently mentioned in the ancient mysteries. In one of T/ie Coi^entry Corpus Christ^
plays (Cotton MSS. Vespasian, D. VIII, fo. 185-6) " Belyall crys when Chrsits
soul is at the gates of hell,"
" Alas, alas, out and harmv ! "
In one of The Chester JVhitsun plays {Harley MSS. Num. 2015), called The Harrctoing
of Hell{io, 5), the second demon exclaims,
"Out harroivc\ where is our mighte?"
" Hare," according to Warton, "is a form of exclamation anciently used in Normandy
[clameur de Haro\ to call for help, or to raise the Hue and cry [erroneously supposed
by some, on that account, to be a corruption of Ha, Rou! i.e. Rollo, D. of Normandy].
{Ob. 01! the F. ^1, iji.) In fact, however, P/iarroh was the old war-cry of the
Irish (see Camden's Brittannia, 1695, P. 1047 ; and Spenser's Vkiu of Ireland, P. 39).
The word, too, or cri de guerre, of Joan of Arc, "was llara, ha!" (Howell's
Letters, P. 113.)
* Original reading ; closed.
+ In like manner Horn Child, before he will agree to marry Rymenild, thinks it
necessary to spend seven years in knightly adventures. See also, the advice given to
Petit Jehan de Saintre', by la jcune dame des belles confines (P. 169, &c.) and his subse-
quent conduct.
T
1+6 Ancient English
And other dedes of armes to done,
Through whiche ye may wynne your shone ; *
And ryde through many a peryllous place,
As a venterous man to scke your grace.
Over hylles and dales, and hye mountaines,
In wethers wete, both hayle and raynes,
And yf ye may no harbroughe se.
Than must ye lodge under a tre, i8o
Among the beastes wyld and tame.
And ever you wyll gette your name ;
And in your armure must ye lye.
Every nyght than by and by ;
And your meny everychone.
Til seven yere be comen and gone ;
And passe by many a peryllous see,
Squyer, for the love of me,
Where any war begynneth to wake.
And many a batayll undertake, 190
Throughout the land of Lumbardy,
In every cytie by and by;
And be avised, when thou shalt fight,
Loke that ye stand aye in the right ;
And, yf ye wyll take gode hede,
Yet all the better shall ye spede ;
And, whan the warre is brought to ende.
To the Rhodes then must ye wende ;
And, syr, i holde you not to prayes,
But ye there fyght thre good frydayes ; 200
And if ye passe the batayles thre.
Than are ye worthy a knyght to be.
And to bere armes than are ye able.
Of gold and goules sete with sable ;
Then shall ye were a shelde of blewc,
In token ye shall be trewe,
With vines of golde set all aboute
Within your shelde, and eke without,
Fulfylled with ymagery.
And poudred with true loves by and by. 2 10
In the myddes of your sheld ther shal be set
A ladyes head, with many a frete,
* See Le bone Florence of Rome, V. 656 ; and the note upon that passage.
Metrical R omances . \^-j
Above the head wrytten shall be
A reason, for the love of me,
Both O and R shall be therin,
With A and M it shall begynne.*
The baudryke, that shall hange therby,
Shall be of white, sykerly,
A crosse of reed therin shall be.
In token of the trynyte. 220
Your basenctte shall be burnysshed bryght.
Your ventall shal be well dyght.
With starres of gold it shall be set,
And covered with good velvet.
A coronall clene corven newe,
And oystrychet fethers of dyvers hewe.
Your plates unto your body shal be enbraste.
Sail syt full semcly in your waste.
Your cote armoure of golde full fyne,
And poudred well with good armyne. 230
Thus in your warres shall you ryde,
With syxe good yemen by your syde,
And whan your warres are brought to ende,
More ferther behoveth to you to wende.
And over many perellous streme.
Or ye come to Jerusalem,
Through feytes, and feldes, and forestes thicke,
To seke where Christe were dead and quycke;
There must you drawe your swerde of were.
To the sepulchre ye must it bere, 240
And laye it on the stone,
Amonge the lordes everychone ;
And offre there florences fyve,
Whyles that ye are man on lyve ;
And ofFre there florences thre,
In tokenyng of the trynyte ;
And whan that ye, syr, thus have done,
Than are ye worthy to were your shone ;
* His device would resemble that of Chaucer's Prioress :
"Of smale coral about her arm she bare
A pair of bedes, gauded alle with grene,
And theron heng a broche of gold ful shene,
On which there was first ywritten a crouned A,
And after, Amor inncit omnia."
"t" Original reading: oytriche.
148 Ancient English
Than may ye say, syr, by good ryght,
That you ar proved a venturous knyght. 250
I shall you geve to your rydinge
A thousande pounde to your spendinge ;
I shall you geve hors and armure,
A thousande pounde of my treasure ;
Wherethrough that yc may honoure wynn.
And be the greatest of your kynne.
I pray to god and our lady,
Sende you the whele of vyctory.
That my father so fayne may be.
That he wyll wede me unto thee, 260
And make the king of this countr^,
To have and holde in honeste,
Wyth welth and wynne to were the crowne,
And to be lorde of toure and towne ;
That we might our dayes endure
In parfyte love that is so pure ;
And if we may not so come to,
Otherwyse then must we do ;
And therfore, squyer, wende thy way,
And hye the fast on thy journay, 270
And take thy leve of kinge and quene,
And so to all the courte bydene.
Ye shall not want at your goyng
Golde, nor sylvcr, nor other thyng.
This seven yere i shall you abyde,
Betyde of you what so betyde ;
Tyll seven yere be comen and gone
I shall be mayde all alone.
The squyer kneled on his kne.
And thankyd that lady fayre and fre ; 280
And thryes he kysscd that lady tho,
And toke his leve, and forth* gan go.
The kinges steward stode full nye.
In a chambre fast them bye.
And hcardc theyr wordes wonder welc,
And all the woyng every dele.
He made a vowc to heaven kynge,
For to bewraye that swete thynge,
* Original reading: he gan go.
Metrical Romances. 1 49
And that squyer taken shoulde be,
And hanged hye on a tree ; 290
And that false stewardc full of yre,
Them to betraye was his desyre ;
He bethought hym nedely,
Every daye by and by.
How he myght venged be,
On that lady fayre and fre.
For he her loved pryvely.
And therfore dyd * her great envye.
Alas ! it tourned to wroth her heyle
That ever he wyste of theyr counsaylc. 300
Bnt leve we of the stewarde here,
And speke we more of that squyer,
Howe he to his chambre wente.
Whan he past from that lady gente.
There he araied him in scarlet reed,
And set his chaplet upon his head,!
A belte aboute his sydes two.
With brode barres to and fro ;
A home about his necke he caste ;
And forth he went, at the last, 310
To do hys office in the hall.
Among the lordes both great and small.
He toke a white yeard in his hande.
Before they kynge than gane he stande,
And sone he sat hym on his knee,
And served the kynge ryght royally,
With deynty meates that were dere.
With partryche, pecoke, and plovere,
With byrdes in bread ybake.
The tele, the duckc and the drake, 320
The cocke, the curlewe, and the crane,
With fesauntes fayre, theyr were no wane.
Both storkes and snypes ther were also,
And venyson freshe of bucke and do,
And other deyntes many one,
For to set afore the kynge anone :
And when the squyer had done so.
He served the hall to and fro,
* Original reading : he dyd.
f A chaplet, it is presumed, was a garland of flowers.
Ancient English
Eche man hym loved in honest^,
Hye and !owe in thcyr degre, 330
So dyd the kyng full sodenly,
And he wyst not wherfore nor why.
The kynge behelde the squyer wele,
And all his rayment every dele,
He thought he was the semlyest man
That ever in the worlde he sawe or than.
Thus sate the kyng and eate ryght nought,
But on his squyer was all his thought.
Anone the stewarde toke good hede,
And to the kyng full soone he yede, 340
And soone he tolde unto the kynge
All theyr words and theyr woynge ;
And how she hyght hym lande and fe,
Golde and sylver great plentye,
And how he should his leve take.
And become a knight for her sake :
"And thus they talked both in fere,
And i drewe me nere and nere,
Had i not come in, verayly.
The squyer had layne her by, 350
But whan he was ware of me.
Full fast away can he fle ;
That [this] is sothe here my hand
To fight with him while i may stand."
The kyng sayd to the steward tho,
I may not beleve it should be so ;
Hath he be so bonayre and benynge,t
And served me syth i was yynge,
And redy with me in every nede,
Bothe true of word, and eke of dede, 360
I may not beleve, be nyght nor daye.
My doughter dere he wyll betraye.
Nor to come her chambre nye.
That fode to longe with no foly ;
Though she would to hym consente.
That lovely lady fayre and gente,
I truste hym so well, withouten drede.
That he would never do that dede ;
* Original reading : bcnyngne.
Metrical Romances. 151
But yf he myght that lady wynne,
In wedlocke to welde withouten synne, 370
And yf she assent hym tyll,
The squyer is worthy to have none yll.
For i have sene that many a page
Have become men by mariage ;
Than it is semely that the squyer
To have my doughter by this manere,
And eche man in his degre,
Become a lorde of ryaltye,
By fortune and by other grace,
By herytage and by purchace : 380
Therfore, stewardc, beware hereby,
Defame hym not for no envy :
It were great reuth he should be spylte,
Or put to death withouten gylte ;
And more ruthe of my doughter dere.
For chaungyng of that ladyes chere ;
I woulde not, for my crowne so newe,
That lady chaunge hyde or hewe,
Or for to put thyselfe in drede,
But thou myght take hym with the dede :* 390
For yf it may be founde in thee,
That thou them fame for enmyte.
Thou shalt be taken as a felon.
And put full depe in my pryson,
And fetered fast unto a stone,
Tyl twelve yere were come and gone,
And drawen wyth hors throughe the cyt^.
And soone hanged upon a tre ;
And thou may not thyselfe excuse.
This dede thou shalt no wise refuse ; 400
And therfore, steward, take good hed,
How thou wilt answere to this ded.
The stewarde answered, with great envy.
That i have sayd that i wyll stand thcrby ;
To sufFrc death and endlesse wo,
Syr kynge, i wyl never go therfro ;
For, yf that ye wyll graunt me here
Strength of men and great power,
* Unless, that is, thou shouldest take him ivith the manner. See before, The erle of
Tolous,y. 522 ; and the note on that line.
Jncient Englhh
I shall hym take, this same nyght,
In the charabre with your doughter bright ; 410
For i shall never be gladde of chere,
Tyll i be venged of that squyer.
Than sayd the kynge, full curteysly,
Unto the stcwarde, that stodc hym by,
Thou shake have strength ynough with the,
Men of armes thirty and thre,
To watche that lady, muche of pryce,
And her to kepe fro her enemyes.
For there is no knyght in Chrystent^,
That wold betray that lady fre, 420
But he should dye under his shelde
And i myght se hym in the feldde ;
And therfore, stewarde, i the pray.
Take hede what i shall to the say;
And if the squiere come not to-night,
For to speke with that lady bryght.
Let hym say whatsoever he wyll,
And here and se and holde you sty 11 ;
And herken well what he wyll say ;
Or thou with him make any fray ; 430
So he come not her chambre within.
No bate on hym loke thou begyn.
Though that he kysse that lady fre.
And take his leave ryght curteysly.
Let hym go, both hole and sounde,
Without wemme or any wounde ;
But yf he wyl her chamber breke,
No worde to hym that thou do speke.
But yf he come with company,
For to betraye that fayre lady. 440
Loke he be taken soonc anone.
And all his meync cvcrychone.
And brought with strength to my pryson.
As traytour, thcfe, and false felon ;
And yf he make any defence,
Loke that he never go thence ;
But loke thou hew hym al so small.
As flesshe whan it to the pottc shall :
And yf he yelde hym to thee,
Brynge him both saufe and sounde to me. 450
Metrical Romances. \ 5 3
I shall borowe for seven ycre
He shall not wedde my doughter dere :
And therfore, stewarde, i thee praye,
Thou watche that lady nyght and daye.
The stewarde sayde the kynge untyll,
All your byddyng i shall fulfyll.
The stewarde toke his leave to go.
The squyer came fro chambre tho,
Downe he went into the hall.
The officers sone can he call, 460
Both ussher, panter, and butler.
And other that in office were ;
There he them warned, sone anone.
To take up the bordes everychone.
Than they dyd his commaundement.
And sythe unto the kyng he went ;
Full lowe he set hym on his kne,
And voyded his borde full gentely ;
And whan the squyre had done so,
Anone he sayde the kynge unto, 470
As ye are lorde of chyvalry,
Geve me leve to passe the sea,
To prove my strenthe with my ryght hande,
On godes enemyes in uncouth land ;
And to be knowe in chyvalry.
In Gascoyne, Spayne, and Lumbardy ;
In eche batayle for to fyght,
To be proved a venterous knyght.
The kyng sayd to the squyer tho.
Thou shalt have good leve to go ; 480
I shall the gyve both golde and fc.
And strength of men to wende with thee ;
If thou be true in worde and dede,
I shall thee helpe in all thy nede.
The squyer thanked the kyng anone,
And toke his leve and forth can gone ;
With joye, and blysse, and much prydc,
With all his meyny by his sydc.
He had not ryden but a whyle.
Not the mountenaunce of a myle, 490
Or he was ware of a vyllage,
Anone he sayde unto a page,
u
5 \. Ancient English
Our souper soone loke it be dyght.
Here wyll we lodge all to-nyght.
They toke theyr ynnes in good intente,
And to theyr supper soone they wente.
Whan he was set, and served at meate,
Than he sayd he had forgete
To take leve of that lady fre,
The kynges doughter of Hungre, 500
Anone the squyer made him ayre.
And by hym selfe forth can he fare,
Without strength of his meyne,
Unto the castell than went he.
Whan he came to the posterne-gate,
Anone he entred in thereat,
And his drawen swerd in his hande,
There was no more with him wolde stande :
But it stode with hym full harde
As ye shall here nowe of the stewarde. 510
He wende in the worlde none had be*
That had knowen of his pryvite,
Alas ! it was not as he wende,
For all his counsayle the stewarde [kende].
He had bewrayed him to the kyng
Of all his love and his woyng ;
And yet he laye her chambre by,
Armed with a great company,
And beset it one eche syde.
For treason walketh wonder wyde. 5^°
The squyer thought on no mystruste
He wende no man in the worlde had wyste,
But yf he had knowen, ne by saynt John
He had not come thedur by his owne ;
Or yf that lady had knowen his wyll.
That he should have come her chamber tyll.
She would have taken hym golde and fe.
Strength of men and royalty ;
But there ne wyst no man nor grome
Where that squyer was become ; 530
But forth he went hymselfe alone
Amonge his servauntes everychone.
* Original reading : bene.
Metrical Romances.
Whan that he came her charabre to,
Anone, he sayde, Your dore undo !
Undo, he sayde, nowe, fayre lady !
I am beset with many a spy.
Lady, as whyte as whales bone,
There are thyrty agaynst me one.
Undo thy dore ! my worthy wyfe,
I am besette with many a knyfe. 540
Undo your dore ! my lady swete,*
I am beset with enemyes great ;
And, lady, but ye wyll aryse,
I shall be dead with myne enemyes.
Undo thy dore ! my frely floure.
For ye are myne and i am your.
That lady with those wordes awoke,
A mantell of golde to her she toke ;
She sayde. Go away, thou wicked wyght,
Thou shalt not come here this nyght : 550
For i wyll not my dore undo
For no man that cometh therto.
There is but one in Christente
That ever made that forwarde with me ;
There is but one that ever bare lyfe.
That ever i hight to be his wyfe ;
He shall me wedde, by Mary bryght,
Whan he is proved a venterous knyght ;
For we have loved this seven yere.
There was never love to me so dere. 560
There lyeth on me both kyng and knyght,
Dukes, erles, of muche might.
* From this repeated exclamation of the poor terrified squire, he seemed to have
acquired it as a nickname, the printer's colophon being — "Thus endeth Undo your
dore, otherwise called the squyr of lowe degre." To Undo your door is to open it.
Thus Govver, Confessio ^mantis, fo. 41 :
"This Geta cam than at laste
Unto the dore, and saide Undo!"
So, likewise, in Kynge Horn:
" Horn bed Undo, wel softe,
Monityme and ofte."
This sense of the word, however, would seem to have been obsolete in the time of
Shakspeare, who, in the fragment of an old song, supposed to be sung by Ophelia,
has
" — dupt the chamber-doore."
156 Ancient English
Wende forth, squyer, on youre waye.
For here ye gette none other praye ;
For i ne wote what ye should be.
That thus bcsecheth love of me.
I am your owne squyr, he sayde,
For me, lady, be not dysmayde.
Come i am full pryvely
To take my leave of you, lady. 57°
Welcome, she sayd, my love so dere,
Myne owne dere heart, and my squyer ;
I shall you geve kysses thre,
A thousande pounde unto your fe,
And kepe i shall my maydenhede ryght
Tyll ye be proved a venturous knyght.
For yf ye should me wede anone,
My father wolde make slee you soone.
I am the kynges doughter of Hungre,
And ye alone that have loved me, 580
And though you love me never so sore.
For me ye shall never be lore.
Go forth, and aske me at my kynne.
And loke what graunt you may wynne;
Yf that ye gette graunte, in faye,
Myselfe therto shall not say nay;
And yf ye may not do so,
Otherwyse ye shall come to.
Ye are bothe hardy, stronge, and wight.
Go forth, and be a venterous knight. 590
1 pray to god, that our lady.
To send you the whele of Victory,*
That my father so leve he be
That wyll profer me to thee.
I wote well it is lyghtly sayd,
Go forth, and be nothyng afrayde.
A man of worshyp may not do so.
He must have what neds him unto ;
He must have gold, he must have fe.
Strength of men and royaltb. 600
* This couplet has already occurred. This illustrious princess, however, is here
made to confound the wheel of Fortune with that of Victory, a goddess who had no
wheel.
Metrical Romances. I5'
Golde and sylver spare ye nought,
Tyll to manhode ye be brought ;
To what batayll soever ye go.
Ye shall have an hundreth pounde or two ;
And yet to me, syr, ye may saye,
That i woulde fayne have you awaye,
That profered you golde and fe.
Out of myne eye-syght for to be.
Neverthelesse it is not so,
It is for the worshyp of us two, 6io
Though you be come of symple kynne.
Thus my love, syr, may ye wynne,
Yf ye have grace of victory,
As ever had syr Lybyus, or syr Guy,
Whan the dwarfe, and mayde Ely,*
Came to Arthoure kyng so fre,
As a kyng t of great renowne
That wan the lady of Synadowne.
Lybius was graunted the batayle tho,
Therfore the dwarfe was full wo, 620
And sayd, Arthur, thou art to blame ;
To bydde this chylde go sucke his dame.
Better hym semeth, so mote i thryve.
Than for to do these batayles fyve.
At the chapell of Salebraunce.
These wordes began great distaunce.
They sawe they had the victory.
They kneled downe and cryed mercy;
And afterward, syr, verament
They called hym knyght absolent. 630
Emperours, dukes, knyghtes, and quene,
At his commaundement for to bene,
Suche fortune with grace now to you fall,
To Wynne the worthyest within the wall.
And thynke on your love alone.
And for to love that ye chaunge none,
Ryght as they talked thus, in fere,
Theyr enemyes approached nere and nere,
* See Lyheaus Disconus, V. no, &c. where, however, the dwarf says nothing at all;
so that, it is probable, there has either been a different edition of Lyheaus in French
or English, or the present minstrel has mis-recited the one we have.
■f- Conjectural emendation ; knyght.
Ancient English
Foure and thyrty, armed bryght,
The steward had arrayed hym to fyght. 640
The steward was ordeyned to spy,
And for to take then utterly.
He wende to death he should have gone.
He felled seven men agaynst hym one ;
Whan he had them to grounde brought.
The stewarde at hym full sadly fought.
So harde they smote together tho,
The stewardes throte he cut in two,
And sone he fell downe to the grounde,
As a traitour untrewe with many a wound. 650
The squyer sone in armes they hente,
And of they dyd his good garmente.
And on the stewarde they it dyd,
And sone his body therin they hydde.
And with their swordes his face they share.
That she should not knowe what he ware.
They cast hym at her chambre-dore,
The stewarde that was styffe and store.
Whan they had made that great affraye.
Full pryvely they stale awaye ; 66c
In arme they take that squyer tho,
And to the kynges chambre can they go,
Without wemme or any wounde,
Before the kynge bothe hole and sounde.
As soone as the kynge him spyed with eye.
He sayd, Welcome, sonne, sykerly;
Thou hast cast thee my sonne to be,
This seven yere i shall let thee.
Leve we here of this squyer wight,
And speake we of that lady bryght, 670
How she rose, that lady dere.
To take her leave of that squyer ;
Al so naked as she was borne.
She stod her chambre-dore beforne.
Alas ! she sayd, and wealeaway !
For all to long now have i lay;
She sayd, Alas ! and all for wo!
Withouten men why came ye so .?
Yf that ye wolde have come to mc,
Other wcrningcs there might have be. 6S0
Metrical Romances. 159
Now al to dere my love is bought.
But it shall never be lost for nought;
And in her armes she toke hym there,
■ Into the chamber she dyd hym bere ;
His bowels soone she dyd out-drawe.
And buryed them in goddes lawc.
She sered that body with specery.
With wyrgin waxe and commendry ;
And closed hym in a maser-tre,
And set on hym lockes thre. 690
She put him in a marble-stone.
With qnaynt gynnes many one ;
And set hym at hir beddes head,
And every day she kyst that dead.
Soone at morne, whan she uprose.
Unto that dead body she gose,
Therfore wold she knele downe on her kne,
And make her prayer to the trynite.
And kysse that body twyse or thryse.
And fall in a swowne or she myght ryse. 700
Whan she had so done.
To chyrche than wolde she gone,
Than would she here masses fyve,
And ofFre to them whyle she myght lyve :
" There shall none knowe but heven kynge
For whom that i make myne offrynge,"
The kyng her father anone he sayde
My doughter, wy are you dysmayde ?
So feare a lady as ye are one.
And so semely of fleshe and bone, 710
Ye were whyte as whales bone,
Nowe are ye pale as any stone ;
Your ruddy read as any cherry.
With browes brent, and eyes full mery ; *
* The printed copy reads "browes bent -.^^ the emendation is founded on the
authority of an old Scottish song :
" In January last
On munanday at morn,
As through the fields i past,
To view the winter corn,
I looked me behind,
And saw come o'er the know
Ane glancing en her apron,
IVith a bonny brent bioiv.'"
i6o Ancient English
Ye were wont to harp and syng.
And be the mericst in chambre comyng ;
Ye ware both golde, and good velvet,
Clothe of damaske, and saphyres set ;
Ye ware the pcry on your head,
With stones full oryent, whyte, and read ; 720
Ye ware coronalles of golde,
With diamoundes set many a fouldej
And nowe ye were clothes of blackc,
Tell me, doughter, for whose sake ?
If he be so poore of fame.
That ye may not be wedded for shame,
Brynge him to me anone ryght,
I shall hym make squyer and knyght,
And, yf he be so great a lorde.
That your love may not accorde, 730
Let me, doughter, that lordynge se,
He shall have golde ynoughe with thee.
" Gramercy, father, so mote i thryve.
For i mourne for no man alyve.
Ther is no man, by heven kyng,
That shal knowe more of my mournynge."
Her father knewe it every deale,
But he kept it in counsele :
"To-morowe ye shall on hunting fare.
And ryde, my doughter, in a chare, 740
It shal be covered with velvet reede.
And clothes of fyne golde al about your hed,
With damaske white,* and asure blewe,
Wei dyapred with lyllyes newe ;
Your pomelles shal be ended with gold.
Your chaynes enameled many a folde ;
Your mantel of ryche degre,
Purpyl palle, and armyne fre ;
Jennettes of Spayne, that ben so wyght.
Trapped to the ground with velvet bright ; 750
At'.aif", if> ^''" Siilketi Snooded Lassie:
" Fair her hair, and brent her hroiv."
In a Gloiiary to Ramsay's Y'oe.ms brent brciv is explained "smooth high forehead."
* Original reading : damikc.
Metrical Romatices. i6l
Ye shall have harp, sautry and songe,
And other myrthes you amonge ;
Ye shall have rumney and malmesyne.
Both ypocrasse, and vernage wyne,
Mount rose and wyne of Greke,
Both algrade, and respice eke,
Antioche, and bastarde,
Pyment, also, and garnarde ;
Wyne of Greke, and muscadcU,
Both clare, pyment, and Rochell. 760
The reed your stomake to defye,
And pottes of osey set you by.
You shall have venison ybake.
The best wylde foule that may be take.
A lese of grehound with you to strykc,
And hert and hynde and other lyke,
Ye shal be set at such a tryst
That hcrte and hynde shall come to your fyst.
Your dysease to dryve you fro.
To here the bugles there yblow, 770
With theyrbegles in that place,
And sevenscore raches at his rechase.
Homward thus shall ye ryde,
On haukyng by the ryvers syde,'
With goshauke, and with gentyll fawcon,
With eglehorne, and merlyon.
Whan you come home, your men amongc,
Ye shall have revell, daunces, and songe ;
Lytle chyldren, great and smale.
Shall syng, as doth the nyghtyngale. 780
Then shall ye go to your evensong,
* This is an ordinary pastime in the old romances. Thus Adam Davie in his Lyf
of Aly sounder :
"In green wood and of huntyng,
And of ryver of haukyng."
So, liicewise, Chaucer, in his Rime of sire Thopas :
" He couth hunt al the wild dere,
And ride an hawking by the riverc."
Again, in The fanklcins tule :
"These fauconers upon a faire rivere,
That with the hawkis han the heron slain."
X
162 Ancient English
With tenours and trebles among ;
Thrcscorc of copes, of damaske bryght,
Full of perles they shal be pyght ;
Your aulter clothes of tafFata,
And your sides all of taffetra.
Your sensours shal be of golde,
Endent with asurc many a foldc.
Your quere nor organ songe shal wantc,
With countrc note, and dyscant, 790
The other halfe on orgayns playeng,
With yonge chyldren full fare syngyng.
Than shall ye go to your suppere.
And sytte in tcntes in grene arbere,
With clothes of aras pyght to the grounde,
With saphyres set and dyamonde,
A cloth of golde abought your heade,
With popinjayes pyght with pery rccd,
And oftyccrs all at your wyll,
All maner delightes to bryng you till. 800
The nightingale sitting on a thornc,
Shall synge you notes both even and mornc.
An hundreth knightes, truly tolde,
Shall play with bowles in alaycs colde,
Your disease to drive awaie,
To se the fisshes in poles plaie ;
And then walke in arbere up and downc,
To se the flourcs of great renowne,
To a drawbrydge than shall ye,
The one halfe of stone, the other of trc ; 810
A barge shall mete you, full ryght.
With twenty-four ores full bryght.
With trompettes and with claryowne.
The fresshe water to rowe up and downc.
Than shall ye go to the sake fome,
Your maner to se, or ye come home,
With eighty shyppes of large tovvre,
With dromedaryes of great honour.
And carackcs with sayles two,
The sweftest that on water may goo, 820
With galyes good upon the haven,
With eighty ores at the fore staven.
Your raaryners shall syngc arowc
Metrical Romances. 163
Hey how and rumby lowe.*
Than shall ye, doughter, aske the vvyne,
With spices that be good and fyne,
Gentyll pottes with genger grene,
With dates and deynties you betwene.
Forty torches, brenynge bryght.
At your brydges to brynge you lyght. 830
Into your chambre they shall you brynge,
With much myrthe and more lykyng.
Your costerdcs covered with whyte and blewe.
And dyapred with lyles newe.
Your curtaines of camaca, all in folde.
Your felyoles all of golde.
Your fester pery at your heed,
Curtaines with popinjayes white and reed.
Your hyllnges with furres of armyne,
Powdred with golde of hew full fyne. 840
Your blanketts shall be of fustyane.
Your shetes shall be of clothe of rayne.
Your head-shete shall be of pery pyght,
* Some song, with this burthen, seems to have been, formerly, peculiar to seamen.
Thus, in Cocke Lorelles bote, b. 1.
" For joye theyr trumpettes dyde they blowe.
And some songe heue and hcnve, rumbeloive."
Skelton, too, in his Boivge of court has the following lines :
" Holde up the helme, lolce up, and lete god stere,
I wolde be merie, what wind that ever blowe,
Heve and lioiv rombeloiv, row the bote, Norman, rowe :"
alluding, it appears from Fabian, to "a roundell or songe," made by the watermen in
praise of John Norman, mayor of London, in the thirty second year of Henry the
sixth, who, instead of riding to Westminster, like his predecessors, "was rowed
thyther by water." Its high antiquity is further manifested by the fragment of a
very ancient Scottish song, preserved by the same Fabian, and other older chroni-
clers, on the battle of Bannock-burn, in 131+:
" Maydens of Englande, sore may ye morne.
For your lemans ye have lost at Bannockys-borne,
With lie-zie a/o-zve :
What weneth the king of England
So soone to have vvonc Scotland ?
With rumhykiuc."
Again, in another old fragment :
" I saw three ladies fair, singing hey and hoiv.
Upon yon ley land, hey :
I saw three mariners, singing rutnbelcno.
Upon yon sea-strand, hey."
1 64 Ancient English
With dyamondes set and rubyes bryght.
Whan you are layde in bedde so softe,
A cage of golde shall hangc aloftc,
With longe-pcpcr fayre burnning,
And cloves that be swetc smellyng,
Frankensence, and olibanum,
That whan ye slepc the taste may come. 850
And yf ye no rest may take,
All night minstrelles for you shall wake.
" Gramcrcy, father, so mote i the.
For all these thinges lyketh not me."
Unto her chambre she is gone,
And fell in sownyng sone anone.
With much sorow and sighing sore.
Yet seven year she kept hym thore.
But leve we of that lady here.
And speake we more of that squyer, 860
That in pryson so was take.
For the kinges doughters sake.
The kyng hymselfe, upon a daye,
Full pryvely he toke the waye.
Unto the pryson sone he came.
The squyer sone out he name.
And anone he made hym swere
His counsayl he should never diskere.
The squyer there helde up his hande.
His byddyng never he should withstandc. 870
The kyng him graunted ther to go
Upon his jorney to and fro,
And brefely to passe the sea.
That no man westc but he and he,
And whan he had his jurnay done,
That he wolde come full soone :
"And in my chambre for to be,
The whyles that i do ordayne for thee :
Than shalt thou wedde my doughter dere.
And have my landes both farre and nerc." 8S0
The squyer was full mcry tho.
And thanked the kyngc, and forth gan go.
The kyng hym gave both landc and fe.
Anone the squyer passed the sc.
In Tuskaync and in Lumbardy,
Metrical Romances. 165
There he dyd great chyvalry.
In Portyngale, nor yet in Spayne,
There myght no man stand hym agayne ;
And where that ever that knyght gan fare,
The worshyp with hym away he bare : 890
And thus he travayled seven yere,
In many a land both farre and nere ;
Tyll on a day he thought hym the
Unto the sepulture for to go ;
And there he made his offeryng soone,
Right as the kinges doughter bad him don.
Than he thought hym on a day
That the kynge to hym dyd saye.
He toke his leve in Lumbardy,
And home he came to Hungry. 900
Unto the kynge soone he rade,
As he before his covenaunce made,
And to the kyng he tolde full soone
Of batayles bolde that he had done,
And so he did the chyvalry
That he had sene in Lumbardy.
To the kynge it was good tydande,
Anone he toke him by the hande.
And he made him full royall chere,
And sayd, Welcome, my sonne so dere. 910
Let none wete of my raeyne
That out of prison thou shuldest be.
But in thy chamber holde the styll,
And i shall wete my doughters wyll.
The kynge wente forth hymselfe alone,
For to here his doughters mone.
Right under the chambre-window.
There he might her counseyle knowe.
Had she wyst, that lady fre.
That her father there had be, 920
He shulde not, withouten fayle,
Have knowen so muche of her counsayle,
Nor nothing she knew that he was there
Whan she began to carke and care.
Unto that body she sayd tho,
Alas, that we should parte in two!
Twyse or thrysc she kysscd that body.
1 66 Ancient English
And fell in sownynge by and by.
Alas ! than sayd that lady dcre,
I have the kept this seven yerc, 930
And now ye be in powder small,
I may no lenger holde you withall.
My love, to the earth i shall the bryngc,
And preestes for you to reade and syngc.
Yf any man aske me what i have here,
I wyll say it is my treasure,
Yf any man aske why i do so,
For no theves shall come therto :
And, squyer, for the love of the,
Fy on this worldes vanyte ! 9^0
Farewell golde, pure and fync ;
Farewell velvet, and satyne ;*
Farewell castelles, and maners also ;
Farewell huntynge, and hawkynge to ;
Farewell revell, rayrthe, and play ;
Farewell pleasure, and garmentcs gay ;
Farewell perle, and precyous stone ;
Farewell my juielles everychone ;
Farewell mantell, and scarlet reed ;
Farewell crowne unto my heed ; 950
Farewell hawkes, and farewell hounde ;
Farewell markes, and many a pounde ;
Farewell huntynge at the hare ;
Farewell harte and hynde for evermare.
Nowe wyll i take the mantell and the rynge,
And become an ancresse in my lyvynge :
And yet i am a maydea for thee.
And for all the men in Chrystente.
To Chryst i shall my prayers make,
Squyer, onely for thy sake ; 960
And i shall never no masse heare,
But ye shall have parte in feare :
* This list of adieus might have been reasonably presumed to have been parodied
by the immortal Shakspeare, who, certainly, was not very scrupulous in the selection
of his literary assistants, where he makes his hero roar out his final
" Farewell ! Othello's occupation's gone ! "
if his industrious editors had not already provided, for the illustration of their
inimitable author, a sufficient quantity of those exclanntory perorations. (See the
edition of 1793, XV, 542.)
Metrical Rommces. i6:
And every daye whyles i lyve.
Ye shall have your masses fyve,
And i shall ofFre pence thre,
In tokenynge of the trynyte.
And whan this lady had this sayde,
In sownyng she fel at a brayde.
The whyle she made this great mornynge,
Under the wall stode her father the kyngc. 970
Doughter, he sayde, you must not do so,
For all those vowes thou must forgo.
" Alas, father, and weleawaye !
Nowe have ye harde what i dyde save."
"Doughter, let be all thy mournyngc,
Thou shalt be wedede to a kynge."
" I wys, father, that shall not be
For all the golde in Christente ;
Nor all the golde that ever god made
May not my harte glade." 980
My doughter, he sayde, derc derlynge,
I knowe the cause of your mournyng :
Ye wene this body your love should be.
It is not so, so mote i the.
It was my stewarde, syr Maradose,
That ye so longe have kept inclose.
" Alas ! father, why dyd ye so r "
" For he wrought you all thys wo ;
He made revelation unto me,
That he knewe all your pryvytc ; 990
And howe the squyer, on a day,
Unto your chambre he toke the way,
And ther he should have lyen you bi,
Had he not come with company ;
And howe ye hyght hym golde and fe,
Strengthe of men and royaltc ;
And than he watched your chambre bryght,
With men of armes hardy and wyght.
For to take that squyer.
That ye have loved this seven ycre ; 1000
But as the stewarde strong and stout
Bescged your chambre rounde about.
To you your love came full ryght,
All alone about mydnight,
i68 Ancient English
And whan he came your dorc unto,
Lady, he saydc, undo ;
And soonc ye bade hym wendc awayc,
For there he gate none other prayc :
And as ye talked thus in fere,
Your encmycs drcwe them ncre and ncre, loio
They smote to him full soone anonc,
There were thyrty agaynst hym one :
But with a baslardc* large and longc
The squyer prcscd into the throngc ;
And so he bare hym in that stounde.
His enemyes gave hym many a woundc.
With egre mode and herte full throwe.
The stewardes throte he cut in two ;
And than his meyne all in that place
With their swordes they hurte his face, 1020
And than they toke him everichone
And layd him on a marble stone
Before your dore, that ye myght sc,
Ryght as your love that he had be ;
And sone the squier there they hent,
And they dyd of his good garment.
And did it on the stewarde there.
That ye wist not what he were :
Thus ye have kept your enemy here
Pallyng more than seven yere : 1030
And as the squyer there was take.
And done in pryson for your sake.
And thcrfore let be your mourning,
Ye shal be wedded to a kyng.
Or els unto an emperoure.
With golde and sylver and great treasure."
"Do awaye, father, that may not be.
For all the golde in Chrystentc,"
Alas ! father, anone she saydc.
Why hath this tray tour me betraid ? 1040
Alas ! she sayd, i have great wrong
That i have kept him here so long.
Alas ! father, why dyd ye so ?
Ye might have warned me of my fo ;
* Original reading : Baitarde.
Metrical Romances. 169
And ye had tolde me who it had be,
My love had never be dead for me :
Anone she tourned her from the kyng,
And dovvne she fell in dead sownyng.
The kyng anone gan go,
And hente her in his armes two ; 1050
Lady, he sayd, be of good chere,
Your love lyveth and is here ;
And he hath bene in Lombardy,
And done he hath great chyvalry ;
And come agayne he is to me,
In lyfe and health ye shall him se.
He shall you wede, my doughter bryght,
I have hym made squier and knyght ;
He shal be a lorde of great renowne,
And after me to were the crovvne. 1060
Father, she sayd, if it so be,
Let mc soone that squyer se.
The squyer forth than dyd he brynge.
Full fayre on lyve and in lykynge.
As sone as she sawe him with her eye.
She fell in sownyng by and by.
The squyer her hente in armes t\vo.
And kyssed her an hundreth tymes and mo.
There was myrth and melody
With harpe, getron and sautry, 1070
With rote, ribible and clokarde,
With pypes, organs and bumbarde.
With other mynstrelles them amonge,
With sytolphe and with sautry songe
With fydle, recorde, and dowcemere.
With trompette, and with claryon clerc.
With dulcet pipes of many cordes,
In chambre revelyng all the lordcr.
Unto morne that it was daye.
The kyng to his doughter began to sayc, 1080
Have here thy love and thy lyking,
To lyve and ende in gods blessinge ;
And he that wyll departc you two,
God geve him sorow and wo.
A trewer lover than ye are one
Was never flcshe ne bone ;
Y
170 Ancient Enzlish
And but he be as true to thee,
God let him never thryve nc thee.
The kyng in herte he was full blithe,
He kissed his doughter many a sithc, 1090
With melody and muche chere,
Anone he called his mcssengere,
And commaunded him scone to go
Through his cities to and fro,
For to warne his chevalry
That they should come to Hungry,
That worthy wedding for to se.
And come unto that manger^.
That messenger full sone he wente,
And did the kinges commaundement. iioo
Anone he commaunded bothe olde and yynge
For to be at that weddyng.
Both dukes and erles of rauche myght.
And ladyes that were fayre and bryght :
As soone as ever they herde the crye.
The lordes were full soone redy.
With myrth and game and muche playe,
They wedded them on a solempne daye.
A royall feest there was holde.
With dukes and erles and barons bolde, mo
And knyghtes and squyers of that countrc.
And sith with all the comunalte :
And certaynly, as the story sayes,
The revell lasted forty dayes ;
Tyll on a day the kyng himselfe
To hym he toke his lordes twclfe,
And so he dyd the squyer
That wedded his doughter dere,
And even in the myddes of the hall
He made him kyng among them all ; 1 120
And all the lordes everychone.
They made him homage sone anon ;
And sithen they revelled all that day,
And toke thcyr leve, and went theyr way,
Eche lorde unto his owne countrfe.
Where that hym [thought] best to be.
That yong man, and the quene his wyfe.
With joy and blysse they led theyr lyfe ;
Metrical Rofnafices.
171
For al so farre as i have gone,
Suche two lovers sawe i none :
Therefore blessed may theyr soules be !
Amen, amen, for charyte !
1130
P^^^E^
^^^
THE KNIGHT OF CURTESY, AND
THE FAIR LADY OF FAGUELL.
The history of which we have here a simple and romantic, but,
at the same time, interesting and pathetic, narrative, is related,
with some prolixity, by Fauchet, from an old chronicle, written
about the year 1380, and is generally believed to be founded on
facts. Le chastellahi de Couci, the constable, that is, of Couci-
castle (so strangely perverted in the present poem to "The knight
of Curtesy")* and la dame de Fa'iel (Gabriclle de Vcrgi, or de
Levergies), here called " the lady of Faguell," are celebrated lovers,
and the subject of a metrical romance in French of the thirteenth
century, still extant in the national library at Paris (Num. 195).!
This amiable and accomplished hero was a poet of singular
merit for his age, several of his passionate and tender songs being
preserved, and in the hands of the public. He appears to have
accompanied his lord, uncle, and namesake, Raoul sire de Couci, in
1190, to the holy-land, where the latter was slain, at the siege of
Acre, in the following year. He has been generally, but im-
properly, confounded, as the poet, and lover of the fair Gabrielle,
with his chastellahi, who received his mortal wound at the same
siege. It is, however, said, in the ancient romance, that he did
not arrive in Palestine, with King Richard, till after the capture of
Acre, where his uncle Raoul had been killed. The husband of
this unfortunate lady was Aubcrt de Fai'el, lord of the castle and
seignory of that name, near the town of St. Quentin. See Fauchet,
Recueil de Vorigine de la langue et po'e'sie Fran^oise, 1581, and " Memoires
historiques sur Raoul de Coucy" Paris, 1 781 (the latter of which works
contains his songs), and Le Grand, Fabliaux cu contes, D, 142. It
* His name was Raoul, though mistakenly called, both by Fauchet, and the
French romance, Rcgnaud or Rcgnault.
\ Le Grand, who lowers this MS. to the fifteenth, allows it may be the copy of
one of an earlier age.
Ancient English Metrical Rotnanccs. 173
is said, in the French romance, that Faiel, fearing lest the relations
of his wife should avenge her death, caused her to be interred
with a great deal of honour, and departed for the holy-land. The
remembrance, however, of his barbarity pursued him everywhere :
after he returned home he was never seen to laugh, and survived
his wife but a few years.
This anecdote is, also, told by Howell, from the relation of a
knowing gentleman whose society he lighted upon in his return in
a coach from Paris to Rouen, in a letter. To his " honoured friend
and father Mr. Ben. Johnson," in 1635, in which he calls the
lover, "one captain Coucy, a gallant gentleman, of an ancient
extraction, and keeper of Coucy-castle, which," he says, "is yet
standing, and in good repair." The gentleman added that this sad
story was painted in Coucy-castle, and remained fresh to that day.
In the above Memoires is a small view of it.
The present poem, some sort of translation, it is presumed, from
the French (but not, it seems, the RotJian du chastellain de Coucy et de
la dame de Faiel, before mentioned, unless with great liberties), is
now republished from an old quarto pamphlet in black-letter, and
without date, " Imprynted at London by me Willyam Copland,"
before 1568. The full title is "Here begynneth a litell treatise
of the knight of Curtesy and the lady of Faguell." The copy
made use of, in the Bodleian-library, is the only one known
to exist.
An elegant romance, on the unfortunate loves of Gabrielle de
Vergi and Raoul de Coucy, was written by the late duke de la
Valliere ; which, it seems probable, is the " beautiful old ballad
mentioned to have been seen by the editor of " Reliques of ancient
English poetry," III, xlii. The story appears to be still preserved
by tradition at St. Quentin and Faiel.
The romance of La chatelaine de Vergy, which seems to have been
confounded, by Froissart and others, with that of Le chatelain de
Coucy, is an entirely different story. See Fabliaux ou contcs, D, 49.
An anecdote, similar, in its main circumstances, to this of Raoul
de Coucy, is related of William de Cabestaing, a Catalan or Pro-
vencal poet of the same age. See Histoire litteraire des troubadours, \,
134. Boccaccio has made it the subject of one of his novels
{fiior. 4, A>. 9).
1 74 Ar.cknt English
THE KNIGHT OF CURTESY, AND THE
FAIR LADY OF FAGUELL.
Jn Faguell, a fayrc coiintre,
A great lorde sointyme dyd dwell,
Which had a lady so fayre and fre
That all men good of her dyd tcl.
Fayre and pleasaunt she was in sight,
Gentyl and amayable in eche degre.
Chaste to her lorde, bothe day and nyght.
As is the turtyll upon the tre.
All men her loved, bathe yonge and oldc.
For her vertue and gentylnessc. lo
Also in that lande was a knight bolde,
Ryght wyse, and ful of doughtinesse.
All men spake of his hardynesse,
Ryche and poore of echc degre,
So that they called him, doutlesse.
The noble knyght of curtesy.
This knight so curteys was and bolde,
That the lorde herde therof anone.
He sayd that speke with him he wolde.
For hym the messengere is gone, 20
Wyth a letter unto this knight.
And sayd, Syr, i pray god you se ;
My lorde of Faguell you sendeth ryght
An hundred folde gretynge by me.
He praieth you in all hastynge
To come in his court for to dwell,
And ye shal lake no mancr of thynge,
As townes, towres, and many a castell.
The curteyse knight was sone content,
And in all dilygcncc that might be 30
Metrical Romances. 175
Wyth the messyngere anone he went
This lorde to serve with humylite.*
Fast they rode bothe day and nyght,
Tyll he unto the lorde was come ;
And whan the lorde of hym had a sight.
Right frendly he did him welcome.
He gave hym towenes, castelles and towres,
Wherof all other had envye,
They thought to reve him his honoures,
By some treason or trechery. 4.0
This lady, of whome i spake before,
Seyng this knight so good and kynde.
Afore all men that ever were bore
She set on hym her herte and minde.
His paramour she thought to be,
Hym for to love wyth herte and minde,
Nat in vyce but in chastyte,
As chyldren that together are kynde.
This knight also curteyse and wyse.
With herte and mynde both ferme and fast, 50
Lovyd this lady wythouten vyse,
Whyche tyll they dyed dyd ever laste.
Both night and day these lovers true
Suffred great payne, wo, and grevaunce,
How eche to other theyr minde might shewe;
Tyll at the last, by a sodaine chaunce.
• The author seems to have made use of an original which, in this respect, con-
founded the two stories of Raoul de Coucy and William de Cabestaing. The latter,
indeed, applies for, and obtains, a service as valet or page with Raymond de Castel
Roussillon, the husband of his mistress ; but neither the old romance nor Fauchet's
Chronicle relates any such event of Raoul. He was castellan, in fact, of his uncle's
castle of Coucy, whence he occasionally visited the fair Gabrielle, whose residence of
Faiel was at no great distance, so that he could go and return in the course of the
night : though it appears, at the same time, from an extract of the old romance,
that, being once on a visit to Faiel, he was pressed by Aubert to remain there in his
absence.
176 Ancient English
This knight was in a garden grene,
And thus began him to complayne,
Alas ! he sayd, with raurnynge eyen,
Now is my herte in wo and payne. 60
From mournyngc can I nat retrayne,
This ladycs love dothe me so wounde,
I feare she hath of me disdayne :
With that he fell downe to the grounde.
The lady in a wyndowe laye,
With herte cold as any stone,
She wyst nat what to do nor saye
Whan she herde the knightes mone.
Sore sighed that lady of renowne,
In her face was no colour founde, 70
Than into the gardein came she downe.
And sawe this knight lye on the grounde.
Whan she sawe hym lye so for her sake.
Her hert for wo was almoost gone.
To her comforte coude she none take.
But in swoune fell downe hym upon.
So sadly that the knyght awoke,
And whan that he sawe her so nerc.
To hym comforte anone he toke.
And began the lady for to chere. 80
He sayd, Lady and love, alas,
Into this cure who hath you brought ?
She sayd, My love, and my solas.
Your beaute standcth so in my thought,
That, yf i had no worldly make.
Never none should have my herte but ye.
The knyght sayd, Lady for your sake,
I shal you love in chastyte.
Our love, he sayde, shal be none other
But chaste and true, as is betwene 90
A goodly systcr and a brother,
Fro luste our bodycs to kcpc clene.
Metrical Romances. 177
And where so ever mi body be,
Bothe day and night, at every tyde,
My simpele herte in chastite
Shall ever more lady with you abide.
This lady, white as any floure,
Replete with feminine shamefastnessc,
Begayn to chaunge her fare coloure.
And to hym sayd, My love, doubtelessc, 100
Under suche forme i shall you love,
With faythful herte in chastite,
Next unto god that is above
Bothe in welthe and adversytb.
Eche of them kyssed other truely.
But, ever alas ! thcr was a fo
Bchynde the wall, them to espye,
Which after torned them to muchc wo.
Out of the gardyn whan they were gone,
Eche from other dyd dcparte, lio
Awaye was all theyr wofull monc,
The one had lyghtcd the others hcrtc.
Than this spyc, of whome i toldc,
Whyche stode behinde the garden wall,
Wente unto his lordc ful bolde.
And sayd, Syr, shewe you i shall,
By your gardyn as i was walkyngc,
I herdc the knight of curtesyc
Which with your lady was talkinge
Of love unlawfull pryvely : 120
Therforc yf ye suffre him for to proccde,
Wyth your lady to have his joyc,
He shal bee lede fro you in dede
Or cllcs they bothe shall you distroye.
Whan than the lordc had understande
The wordes that the spyc him tolde,
He sware he would ryddc him fro that [landc],
Were he never so stronge and bolde.
z
178 Jncicnt English
He swarc an othe, by god almight,
That he should never be glade ccrtaync 130
While that knight was in his sight,
Tyl that he by some mcanc were slainc.
Than let he do cryc a fecst,
For every man that thider wolde come,
For every man bothc moost and leest,
Thyder came lordes bothe oldc and yonge.
The lordc was at the table set,
And his lady by him that tide.
The knight of" curtesy anone was set,
And set dovvne on the other syde. 140
Theyr hartes should have be wo-begone.
If they had knowen the lordes thought;
But whan that they were styll echone,
The lorde these wordcs anone forth brought:
Me thinkc it is fyttingc for a knight
For aventurcs to enquyre.
And nat thus, bothe day and night.
And home to sojourne by the fyre.
Thcrfore, syr knight of curtcsye.
This thingc wyl i you counscyl!, 150
To ryde and go throughe the countrc,
To sckc adventures for your avayle.
As unto Rodcs for to fight,
The christen fayth for to mayntaync.
To shewc by amies your force and myght.
In Lumbardy, Portyngale, and in Spayne.
'I'hcn spake the knyght to the lord anone.
For your sake wyl i avcnturc my lyfc.
Whether ever i come agayne or none.
And for my ladyes sake, your wyfc. 160
If i dyd nat i were to blame.
Than sighed the lady with that wordc,
Jn dolour dcpe her hertc was tane.
And sore wounded as wyth a swordc.
Metrical Romances. i 79
Than after dyner the knight did go
His horse and harneyse to make redy,
The woful lady came him unto,
And to him sayd right pyteously :
Alas ! yf ye go, i must complaync
Alone as a woful creature, i 70
If that ye be in batayle slayne.
On lyve may i not endure.
Alas, unhappy creature !
Where shal i go, where shal i byde ?
Of dethe sothely nowe am i sure,
And all worldly joye i shal set asyde.
A payre of sheres than dyd she take.
And cut of her here bothe yclowe and bright ;
Were this, than sayd she, for my sake,
Upon your helme, moche curteyse knight. 180
I shall, dere lady, for your sake,
This knyght sayd, with styl morninge :
No comforte to him coude he take,
Nor absteine him fro perfounde syghinge.
For grcte pyte i can not wryte
The sorowe that was betwenc them two ;
Also i have to small respyte
For to declare theyr paync and wo.
The wofull dcpartingc and complaynt
That was betwene these lovers twayne 190
Was never man that coude depaynt.
So wofully did they complayne.
The teres ran from theyr eycn twayne.
For dolourc whan they did departe ;
The lady in her castell did rcmaync,
Wyth langour rcplenysshcd was her hcrtc.
Now leve we here this lady bryght.
Within her castel makingc her monc,
And tourne we to the curtcys knyght,
Whyche on his journey forth is gone. 200
I So Ancient Enzlisk
Unto hymself this knight sayd he,
Agaynst the chrystcn i wyl not fyght,
But to the Rodcs wyl i go
Them to sustcyne with all my myght.
Than did he her heere unfolde,*
And one his helme it set on hye,
Wyth rede thrcdes of ryche goldc,
Whiche he had of his lady.
Full richcly his shelde was wrought,
Wyth asurc stones and betcn goldc,
But on his lady was his thought,
The yclowe hearc whan he dyd hcholdc.
Than forth he rode by dale and downe,
After aventures to enquyre.
By many a castel, cytc and towne.
All to batayl was his desyrc.
In every justyng where he came
None so good as he was founde.
In every place the pryce he wan.
And smote his adversaryes to the grounde.
So whan he came to Lumbcrdye,
Ther was a dragon theraboute,t
Whyche did great hurt and vylanyc,
Bothe man and beste of hym had doubte.
As this knight rode there alone,
Save oncly his page by his syde,
For his lady he began to mone.
Sore syghynge as he did ride.
* This incident is noticed both in the French romance and the chronicle cited by
Fauchct. " La dame de Fa'i'el," says the latter, " quand elle sceut qu'il s'en dcvoU alter,
Jijt'jm lags de s^ye moul: bd et b:en fait, ct y a-voit de ses cAcvcux cuvre's paimi la soyc ;
dent I'ceu-vre semblot moult belle et riche : dent il lioit un bourrelet moult r'lche par dcssus son
heaume : et a-vcit longs fendans par dcrrierc, a gros bouicns de perks."
•j-This adventure with the dragon is unnoticed both in the extracts from tlic
French romance, and by Fauchet.
Metrical Romances. i 8 1
Alas ! he sayd, my lady swete,
God wote in what case ye be ; 230
God wote whan we two shall mete,
I feare that i shal never you se.
Than as he lokcd hym aboutc,
Towarde a hyll that was so hye.
Of this dragon he harde a shoutc,
Yonder is a feast, he sayd, truly.
The knight him blcssyd, and forthe dyd go,
And sayd, I shall do my travayle,
Betyde me well, betyde me wo.
The fyers fynde i shall assayle. 240
Than wyth the dragon dyd he meate.
Whan she him sawe she gaped wyde,
He toke good hede, as ye may wete,
And quyckely stertcd a lytle asyde.
He drewe his swerde like a knyght,
This dragon fyersly to assayle.
He gave her strokes ful of myght,
Stronge and mortall was the batayle.
The dragon gave this knight a woundc,
Wyth his tayle upon the heed, 250
That he fell downe unto the grounde.
In a sowne as he had ben deed.
So at the last he rose agayne,
And made his mone to god almyght.
And to our lady he dyd complcyne,
Theyr helpe dcsyryngc in that fyght.
Than stertc he wyth a fayrc courage.
Unto the dragon without fayle,
He loked so for his advauntage,
That [quyckely] he smote of her tayle. 260
Than began the dragon for to yell,
And tourned her upon her sydc,
The knight was ware of her right well.
And in her bodi made his swordc to slydc.
I«2
Ancient English
So that she could nat remeve scarcely,
The knight, that scinge, approched nerc.
And smote her heed of lyghtly,
Than was he escaped that daungere.
Than thanked he god of his grace,
Whiche, by his goodness and mercye, 270
Hym hath preserved in that place.
Through vertue of hys deytc.
Than went he to a nonryc there bcsyde,
And there a surgean by his arte
Hclcd his woundes that were so wydc,
And than fro thens he dyd dcpartc,
Towarde the Rodes,* for to fyght,
In bataill as he had undertake,
The fayth to susteync with all his might.
For his promysse he wil not brekc. 280
Than of Sarazyns there was a route,
Al redy armen and in araye.
That syeged the Rodes round aboutc,
Fyersly agaynst the good freydaye.
The knight was welcomed of echone,
That within the cyte were,
They provided forth batayle anone :
So for this time i leve them there,
And tourne to his lady bryght,
Which is at home wyth wofull monc, 290
Sore morncd [she] both day and night,
Sayenge, Alas ! my love is gone.
Alas ! she sayd, my gentyl knight.
For your sake is my herte ful sore,
Myght i ones of you haue a syght
Afore my dethe, i desyre no more.
Alas ! what treson or cnvye
Hath made my love fro me to go ?
I thynke my lorde for ire truely
Bv treason him to dcth hathc do. 300
• It was Acre, not Rhodes.
Metrical Romatues. 183
Alas ! my lorde, ye were to blame
Thus my love for to betraye,
It is to you a right great shame,
Sythc that our love was chast alwayc.
Our love was clene in chastyte, ^,
Without synne styl to endure,
We never entcnded vylanyc ;
Alas, moost curteysc creature !
Where do ye dwell ? where do yc bydc ?
Wold god i knewc where you to fyndc ! 310
Wher ever ye go, where ever ye ride,
Love, ye shall never out of my myndc.
A, deth, where art thou so longe fro me ?
Come and departe me fro this paine,
For dead and buried til i be
Fro morning can i nat refraine.
Fare wel, dcre love, where ever ye be,
Bi you pleasure is fro me gone,
Unto the time i may you se.
Without comforte still must i monc. 320
Thus this lady, of coloure clere.
Alone mourninge did complaine,
Nothingc couldc her comforte ne chcrc,
So was she oppressed with wo and painc.
So Icve we her here in this trainc,
For her love mourning alwayc,
x'\nd to the knight tourne we againe,
Which at Rodes abidcth the day
Of bataile, so whan the dale was come,
The knightes armed them eche one, 330
And out of the citie wente all and some,
Strongly to fight with goddcs sone.
Faire and semely was the fight,
To se them redy unto the warre.
There was many a man of might.
That to that bataile was come full farrc.
184 Ancient English
The knight of curtesy came into the fcldc,
Well armed right fast did ride,
Both knightes and barans him bchcldc,
How comely he was on eche side. 340
Above the hclme upon his hedc.
Was set, with many a precious stone.
The comely heare as golde so rede.
Better armed than he was none.
Than the trurapcttes began to sounde.
The spercs ranne and brake the ray ;
The noise of gonnes did rebounde,
In this metingc there was no plaic.
Great was the bataile on evri side,
The knight of curtesy was nat bchindc, 350
He smote al downe that wolde abide,
His mache coulde he no where finde.
There was a Sarazin strongc and wight,
That at this knight had great envyc.
He ran to him with all his might.
And said, Traitour, i thee defie.
They ranne together, with spcres longe,
Anonc the Sarazin lay on the grounde,
The knight drewe out his swordc so strongc,
And smote his head of in that stoundc. 360
Then came twelve Sarazins in a rought,
And the knight did sore assaile.
So they beset him rounde aboutc,
There began a strongc bataile.
The knight kest fourc unto the grounde.
With foure strokes by and by,
The other gave him many a woundo,
For ever they did multiplie.
They laidc on him on every side.
With cruell strokes and mortal), 370
They gave him woundos so depc and wide.
That to the grounde downe did he fall.
Metrical Romances. 185
The Sarazins went, and let him lye,
With mortal! woundes piteous to se.
He called his page* hastely,
And said, my time is come to die.
In my herte is so depe a wounde
That i must dye without naye,
But, or thou me burye in the grounde,
Of one thinge i thee praie : 380
Out of mi body to cut my herte,
And wrappe it in this yelowe here,
And, whan thou doest from hence departe,
Unto my lady thou do it bere.
This promisse thou me without delay.
To bere my lady this present.
And burie mi body in the crosse waie.
The page was sory and dolent.
The knight yelded up the goost anone,
The page him buried as he had him bad, 390
And towardc Faguell is he gone.
The herte, and here, with him he had.
Somtime he went, somtime he ran,
With wofull mone and sory jest.
Till unto Faguell he came,
Nere to a castell in a forest.
The lorde of Faguell, without let.
Was in the forest with his meyne,
With this page anone he met :
Page, he said, what tidinges with thee ? 400
With thi maister how is the case ?
Shew me lightly, or thou go.
Or thou shah never out of this place.
The page was afeardc whan he said so.
*The name of this page is Gobert in the French romance. He had been in the
service of Aubert.
2 A
1 86 Jncient Evglish
The page for feare that he had,
The herte unto the lorde he tokc tho,
In his courage he was full sad,
He toke the heere to him also.
He tolde him trothe of evri thingc,
How that the knight in bataile was slainc, 4T0
And how he sent his lady that thingc,
For a speciall token of love certaine.
The lorde thereof toke good hede,
And behelde the herte, that high presentc ;
Their love, he said, was hote in dede.
They were bothe in great torment.
Than home is he to the kechin gone :
Coke, he said, herken unto me ;
Dresse me this herte, and that anone.
In the deintiest wise that may be ; 420
Make it swete and delycate to eate,
For it is for my lady bryght.
If that she wyst what were the raeate,
Sothely her hert wolde not be lyght.
Therof sayd the lord full trewe,
That meat was doleful and mortall,
So thought the lady whan she it knewe,
Than went the lorde into the hall.
Anone the lorde to mcate was set,
And this lady not farre him fro, 430
The hert anone he made be set,
Wherof proceded muche wo.
Madame, eate hereof, he sayd.
For it is deynteous and plesaunte.
The lady eate, and was not dismayde.
For of good spyce there dyd none want.
Whan the lady had eaten wele,
Anone to her the lorde sayd there.
His herte have ye eaten, every dele.
To whom you gave your yelowe here, 440
Metrical Romances. 187
Your knight is dead, as you may sc,
I tel you, lady, certaynly,
His owne herte eaten have yc,
Madame, at the last we all must dye.
Whan the lady herde him so say,
She sayd, My herte for wo shall brast ;
Alas, that ever i sawe this day !
Now may my lyfe no longer last.
Up she rose, wyth hert full wo,
And streight up into her chambre wcnte, 450
She confessed her devoutly tho,
And shortely receyved the sacrament.
In her bed mournyng she her layde,
God wote, ryght wofull was her mone :
Alas ! myne owne dere love, she sayd,
Syth ye be dead my joye is gone.
Have i eaten thy herte in my body ?
That meate to mc shal be full dere.
For sorowe, alas, now must i dye :
A, noble knight, withouten fere ! 460
That herte shal certayne with me dye,
I have received theron the sacrament,
All erthly fode here i denye.
For wo and paine my life is spente.
My husbande, full of cruelte.
Why have you done this cursed dede ?
Ye have him slaine, so have ye me.
The hie god graunte to you your mede !
Than sayd the lord. My lady fayre,
Forgive me if i have misdone, 470
I repent i was not ware
That yc wolde your herte oppresse so sonc.
The lady sayd, I you forgive,
Adew, my lorde, for evermore ;
My time is come, i may not live.
The lorde sayd, I am wo thertorc.
1 88 Ancient English Metrical Romances.
Great was the sorowe of more and Icssc,
Bothe lordes and ladyes that were there,
Some for great wo swouned doubtelessc ;
All of her dethe full wofull were. 480
Her complaynt pyteous was to here,
Adieu, my lorde, nowe muste we discever,
I dye to you, husbande, a true wedded fere,
As any in Faguell was found ever.
I am clene of the knight of curtesy,
And wrongfully are we brought to contusion ;
I am clene for hym, and he for me,
And for all other save you alone.
My lorde, ye were to blame truely,
His herte to make me for to eate, 490
But sythe it is buryed in mi body,
On it shall i never eate other raeatc.
Thcron have i recyvcd cternall fode,
Erihly meate wyl! i never none ;
Now Jesu that was don on the rode.
Have mercy on me, my lyfe is gone !
Wyth that the lady, in all theyr syght,
Yelded up her spyrit, making her mone :
The hyghe god moost of myght
On her have mercy and us cchone I 500
GLOSSARY.
*Hi
;^^:m->
(Throughout, the words are in Roman type, and the explanations in Italic.
The letters S and F signifie that the word is derived from the Saxon or
French. )
Abade, abode.
Abayst, abashed.^ as/iaiiied.
Abbas, abbess.
Abenche, lipon a bench.
Abohte, Aboth, bought ; S.
Abothe, abode.
Abought, bought.
Absolent, absolute.
Abugge, Aby, suffer., or atone for.
Ac, but ; S.
Achon, each one.
Acketoun, Actoun, frequefit/y
used for the hauberk, corslet,
or complete coat of mail, but,
strictly, a leathern or stuffed
jacket, worn under it. Thus,
in Ywaine and Gawin, v.
2616 — -
" Both haubcrt and his actoun ;"
acqueton, or hoqueton, F.
Acyce, assize.
Admyrold, Anierayle, a corrupt
title given by some ancient his-
torians to the Saracen Kings ;
whence, it seems, our admiral ;
the original Arabic is Ameer
al omrah, or prince of the
princes.
Adrad, Adradd, Adred, afraid,
terrified.
Adrenche, Adrynke, droivn,
drink.
Adron(}ue, droivned ; S.
Adyghl, dight, decked.
Afeng, received ; S.
Afert. afeared, afraid.
Afurste, at first.
Afyn, Afync, in fine, at last.
Agast, afraid.
Ageth, goeth.
Aght, eight, ought, owed.
Agramed, angry, furious ; S.
Agrayde, graith, dress, decorate.
Agros, shuddered, trembled.
Agryse, shudder, tremble; be
frightened, terrified, angry, or
in a passion ; S.
Agye, to guide, manage, govern,
act for.
Agyme, begin ; S.
Ah, but.
Ahte, eight.
.\knen, iipon his knees.
Alablast, see Arblast.
Alayes, alleys ; allies, F.
Albidene, Albydene, Allbe-
dene, AH bedeene, altogether,
wholely, entirely, one after
another. Thus, too, Robert
of Brunne, p. 45 —
" Lyndesie he destroied all bidenc."
This phrase is of inscrutable
etymology. See Bydene.
Aide, old.
Alexcion, election.
Algrade (or Algarde), a species
of Spanish wine.
Al if, although.
Alkins, Alkyn, likewise.
Allane, Alloon, alone.
Alner, a purse or bag, to hold
money. Chaucer calls it an
aumere. Almoire; F.
Alowte, lout, bend, bo7v, humble
himself
Als, as; Als, Alse, also; Al-
190
Glossary.
sone, forthwith.
Alther-furste, Alther-last, Alther-
next, (Sic, the first., last., next
of all.
Ahveldan, all-7c>ielding, all-go-
7ernifig, omtufotent ; S.
Amall, enamel; emaille ; F.
Ameraud, emerald.
Amerayle, see Admyrold.
An, on ; An, Ane, one.
Anamered, enamoured.
Anl)lerc, on an ambler, or
ambling nag.
And, an, if.
Ande, the breath ; vS.
Anes, once ; Anly, only : ,\nt,
and.
Antioche, some hind of wine,
probably imported or intro-
duced from that country.
A i)a)'de, pleased, satisfied, content.
Apertly, openly, plainly.
Aplight, Apliht, Aplyghl, com-
plete, perfect. The etymology
of this word cannot be ascer-
tained,
Apr\se, enterprise, attempt, ad-
venture.
Aquelde, (fuelled, killed.
Ar, Are, ever, before.
Araste, rest, smote.
Arblaste, a cross bow ; arbalaste,
¥.
Arber, Arbere, arbour.
Are, oar ; S.
Areche, expound, explain, inter-
pret; S.
Are re, raise.
Areson, reason, with, address, talk
to, convince by argument.
Arewe, rue.
Arm}ne, ermine.
Armyte, hermit.
Arsoun, saddle.
Arst, erst, first, sooner.
Arunde, errand.
Ascry, descry, discover, betray.
Asour, azu7-e, blue.
I Assaye, essay, trial
Assoyle, absolve.
I Astrote, buldging, strutting out.
[ Aswogh, Aswowe, in a sivoon.
I At, that, to ; At ane. At on, A
ton, at one, agreed.
Ateoned, atoned.
Ateyned, Ataynte, attainted.
Ath, oath.
Atrayyed, poisoned ; S.
Alight, o7i'ed, own€d, possessed.
Aunterous, adventurous, abound-
ing with adventures.
Avaunt, boast, extol : avant, V .
A\;eaunt, Avenant, Avcnaunt,
comely, handsonw, graceful,
promise, agreement, condition.
A\entayle, aperture in a close
helmet, through which the
tvearer was to breathe.
Avente, open {for the purpose
of breathing through).
Aventurs, adventures.
Avese, Avyse, advised, wa>y,
discreet, or the like ; aviser; ¥.
A\yse, consider, think of it.
Avysement, advice, deliberation ;
avisement ; V.
A^•ysyd, advised.
Aw, owes, or owns, 07c>e or own ;
Aw, aive, power, tyranny.
Awede, Awyede, be mad or furi-
ous; S.
Awreke, revenged ; S.
Axsy, ask ; Axede, asked ; S.
Aye, ever.
Ayen, Ayens, Aye\'nes, again,
against.
Ayre, heir, Ayre, probably for
yare, -which see.
Bacmet, Ikicnielte, Basenet,
Basnet, a kind of covering for
the head.
Balde, bold, certain, ivell as-
sured; S.
Bale, evil, mischief, sorrow, mis-
deed and the like; in the plural
Glossary.
191
Balys; S.
Band, bound.
Bandoun, Baundoun, goveru-
f/ieiif, bond, poiver, hands, con-
finetnent.
Bane, death, misery, evil, mis-
chief, curse ; S.
Baptyste, baptism.
Bare, a tvild boar ; S.
Barme, bosom, lap, womb ; S.
Barme-teme, brood.
Barn, child ; S.
Barnage, baronage, peerage, no-
bility.
Baslarde, a sit'ord or dagger.
Bastarde, wirie of Corsica, so
called, as is C07tjectiired, fro7?i
being /nixed with honey. It
7c>as a common beverage in
London, so late as Shakspeare s
time.
Bate, bit.
Bay, brought to b>ay, at his
last gasp, or ivhen the deer,
when weary of running, turns
upon the hounds, and holds or
puts the?n to bay; abbois, F.
Bayn, ready, near.
Be, by.
Bede, offer, afford ; S.
Beden, pi-ayers.
Bedene, all, altogether, together ;
07ie after ajiother.
Beende. See Bende.
Befyll, befel; S.
Behete, ^[heiQ. promise, assure;
S.
Bekeand, beeking, warming, or
sweating.
Bel and Boke, a soletnn curse in
the Ro?nan Catholic religion,
denounced at high mass, with
the ringing of a bell, and the
readifig of a book.
liel^my, good friend ; belatni, F.
Beld, Belde, help,pi-otect, defend.
Belyfe, Belyve, Bilive, after-
ward, soon, ly and bye.
Bemes, horns, trufiips, S.
Bende, bondage, bands, bonds,
prison, S.
Bente, bough.
Benynge, betiign.
Bentys, bents, grounds near the
sea, on which bent, a coarse
large grass, grows.
Ber, Bere, bier, bear.
Besauntes, a piece of gold, so
called because first coined at
Byzantium, now Constanti
nople.
Besofte, besought, enticed.
Beste, deer.
Bestadde, circumstanced.
Bestered, bestired.
Bet, better, i>ettered, amended.
Bete, /'eaten, plaited, inlayed
embroidered.
Beth, be.
Bewrye, bewray, betray, accuse.
Bewtese, civilities, ceremo7iies.
Beye, aby, reve/ige, atone for.
Beyete, begot.
Beyke, to back, or warm, as
befo7-e a rousi/igfirc.
Beyne, bain, soon.
Bical, Bikalles, i/npeacli, accuse.
Bicauht, deceived.
Bicollede, blackened.
Bide, abide, aivait.
Biforn, Ihfore.
Big, build.
Bigonne, began.
Bihete. See Behete.
Bilive. See Belyfe.
Birful, roaring.
Bitoke, betook, co/n/nitted to.
Bityme, betitnes, in time.
Blan. .See Bly/ine.
Blauner, stopper.
Bla\\'and, blowing.
Ble, Blee Bleo, VAo, hue, colour,
co77iplexion ; Bio, black-blue ;
S. lividus, luridus.
Blew-out, b7-eathcd ha7-d, puffed.
Blome, Blosme, bloo7n, blossom.
192
Glossary.
Blyn, Blynne, stof, cease, put a
stop to, S.
Blyve, b/ithe.
Bo, both.
Bodely, bodily.
Bonair, debonair.
Bone, boon, reward.
Boones, bones.
Boos)-s, bosses, or tufts.
Boot, boat.
Bord, Bard, board dinning-tabk,
Boriaes, burgesses.
Borken, barking, S.
Korowed, Borwyth, borro^ved,
pledged, redeemed, S.
Borows, borwes, pledges, sure-
ties, S.
Boscage, ivood, underivood, bo-
cage, F.
Bost, boast.
Bote, boot, good, remedy, amend-
metit, purpose, S.
Bote, boat ; Bote, but.
Boteles, bootless, tvithout remedy.
Bother : Thair bother wil, the
will of both.
Boun, Bowne, ready prepared ;
redi, orxtdc^ boun, a pleonasm.
Bour, chamber; Bowrys, cham-
bers.
Bouer-wemen, chamber-maids.
Bourd, Jest, fun, a passage of
humour, or pleasa7ttry.
Bourding,y>i'//;/^, or ridiculing.
Bourned, gilded, burnished.
Bowrnes, burns, rivulets.
Bowsum. See Buxum.
Boyst, a box ; boiste, F.
Brade, broad; Bradder, broader.
Brand, a sword.
Brayde, dreiv quickly.
Brayded, roared.
Brayn-wode, stark-mad.
Bredde, bread.
Bregge, a bridge.
Br eke, breeches, S.
Breme, brim, fierce ; Wei breme,
very clear.
Bremly, fiercely.
Brenne, buj-n ; Brenning, burn-
ing; Brent, B rente, /'?/r;/<'</ .•
Brente it do, caused it to />e
burned.
Brere, brier.
Bresyd, bruised.
Bretise, a bretise brade, a gate-
way, or portal of defence, in
the raffipart, or wall, of a
castle or totini; brdesque, F.
Brether, brothers, brethren.
Breyde, start, hurry.
Briddes, birds.
Bride, bridle ; bride, F .
Bright, as byrde bride, a compli-
mentary or affectionate address
or appellation of a beautiful or
beloued young woman.
Broche, a kind of buckle, broad,
round, and worn on the breast,
or on the hat n'ith a tongue ;
a breast-pin, F
Brok, badger. " To stink like a
brock," is proverbial.
Brond. See Brand.
Brondys, brands, faggots.
Brooke, Brouk, Brouke, brook,
employ well, make the best of
use, enjoy, S.
Brudale, bridal. Brude, bride.
Brugge, or Brygge, a bridge.
Brunie, a cuirass, or coat of mail;
brugne or brunie, F.
Bryd, a bird. Bryd on bowe.
bird on bough. See Bright
and Byrd.
Brjm, hank, S. See Breme.
Bud, behoved.
Bueth, be, are.
Bumbarde, bombarde.
Bun, Bunden, bound.
Burland, hurlifig, weltering.
Burne, baron.
Bus, behoves.
Buske, to prepare or make ready.
Buskes, bushes.
But, without, unless.
Glossary.
193
Buxum, fiiixom, yielding^ obe-
dient; S.
Byd, to pray.
Bydene. See Bedene.
Byger, a builder. Bvgged,
/'/////. Bygginge, building,
house ; S.
Byht, beeth.
Byker, to bicker, fight, or skir-
mish.
Bylaft, left bekitid.
Bylayne, lain by.
Byn, n'ithin.
Byradden, advised.
Byrd, a damsel, yoiing lady or
-ivoman. See Bright and Bryd.
Byrke, birch.
Byronne, overru?i.
Bvs, Purpur h\?>, purple colour ;
'bis, F.
Byseke, beseech.
■ Bysmare, disho;20ur, derision,
infamy ; S.
Bysuyke, Byswike, Byswyke,
i'ctray, beguile, deceive : S.
Byt, bite.
("a lie, caul, dap, hood, or head-
dress.
Caniaca, according to Spelmafi, a
kind of cloth, of which, under
Edivard III., they made the
chu7-ch-Testn:ents ; sometimes
white, sometimes red.
Carackes, large ships ;carraque, F.
Cardevyle, Cardelof, Carlile.
Carke, cark, care, S.
Carped, talked, conversed.
Caste, purpose, contriva?ice, in-
tentio7i, occasion, opportufiity .
Cees, cease.
Celli, silly.
Certes, certainly. Certeys,
courteous.
Chamberer, chamber-maid.
Changy, change.
CharbokuU, carlnuule ; escar-
boucle, F.
Chare, chariot.
Chase, chose.
Chastlayne, the constable of a
castle ; chastelain, F.
Chasy, to chase.
Chauntement, Chaunterye, en-
chantment.
Chavy], jaw.
Chepyng, a market.
Cher, countena7ice.
Cherel, cherl, churl, carl, clown,
old fellow, S.
Chese, chose.
Chesten-tre, Chesteyn-tre, ches-
nut tree.
Cheverd, shivered.
Child. See the note on King
Horn, V. 85.
ChoW, fowl, head.
Chorle. See Cherel.
Chrystendome, Chrystente, all
countries collectively in 7vhich
Chris tia nity preva ils.
Ckare, clary, a mixture of wi7ie
and honey ; clairet, F.
Cleche, click, catch, lav hold
of
Clese, cleaved, cleft, clove.
Clene, chaste, pure, innoce7tt.
Clepede, called, 7ia7/icd, S.
Clere, a clear, chaste, pure, heaic-
tiful young lady.
Clelh, to clothe, or dress.
Clippe, clasp, embrace.
Clodes, clothes.
Clodeth, clothed.
Clokarde, a7i inst7-ument like a
guitar.
Clongyn, clung, S.
Clyne, e7icli7ic.
Clyve, cliff, 7-ock.
Collede, hiack.
Come, co7/nng, came.
Comunaltc, com77i07ialty.
Coresur, horse-dealer.
Cornall, Cornell, Coronall,
Coronell, a crown, coro7iet,
iron-point, or head of a spear
194
Glossary.
Cornell, "///<? forepart of a
house r (Coles.)
Corven, caj-ved.
Costantyne the noljull, Coiislan-
tinople.
Costerdcs. " Duo costers j^anni
magni de velveto, pro princi-
palihus festis." — " Do et lego
Ricardo de Nevil filio meo . .
unum lectum de arvas, cur.i
rf^^/'t'/'/V paled de colore rubeo,
qui folebant pendere in magna
camera." JDu Cafige.
Courage, heart ; common, Spa.
Covenaunce, covenants.
Covenawnt, faWifnl.
Cover, 7'ecflver.
Covering, recovery ?
Cowre, crouch.
Cracched, scratched.
Crapawtes, Crapowtes, the stone
che/onites, or toad-stone : cra-
paud, a toad.
Creant, Creaunt,nm'rt'///, craven.
Crompyld, cnimpied.
Cropoun, Croupe, back, tail.
Croupiere, the buttock-piece.
Crouth, a croivd, or strini^ed in-
stj-ument, whence Butler's
Crowdero; S. {Leland's Col.)
Croyz, cross.
Culde, killed.
Culpons, shreds, splinters.
Culvard, treacherous, infamous :
culvert, V .
Cumand, Cumande.s, command,
come, coming. Cumen, come
Cumlyng, a comeling, one neivly
come. (Hearne.) " Comc-
lyng, new- cum -nian or
woman."
Cumvay, convey.
Cun, kine, cows.
Cunne, kin.
Cure, care.
Curtay.se, Curtes, courteous.
Cusse, kiss. Custe, kissed.
Cutted, cut, split, formed, or
shaped.
Da, a doe.
Damjiny, condemn.
Dang, smote (plural of \)\\v^)
Dawe, da7i.'n. Da wed, Dawyd,
dawned.
Dawes, days.
De, the, thee.
Ded, Dedd, \')K:^<t„dead, death.
DefuU, a deful! dede, a diaboli-
cal act, S.
Dele, dolour, sorro-u>, grief.
Dele, to part, to deal.
Deme, deem, judge, jtidgment, S.
Denketh roun, think to ?-un.
Dentys, dints, strokes, bhm's.
Der, dear. Der, Dcre, Derye.
harm, huit, danui^e, distress,
mischief. Derid, harmed, S.
Deray, noise ; desroy, Y .
Derne, secret, secretly, obscure,
obscurely.
Devworlhe, precious, valued at a
high 7-ate.
Dese. See Dcys.
Destrer, a destrier, war, or tilt-
ing horse ; dextrier, ¥. ; dex-
irarius, L., from being led on
the right side, or with the right
hand.
Descrive, describe.
Destruyt, destroyed.
I3ewkys, dukes.
Dey, they.
Deye, dye.
Deys, hye de}se, an elevated
part of the floor at the upper
end oj a great hall, upon
which, 2inder a canopy, stood
the targe dining tabic ; still
obsen'able in the university
; colleges and inns of court.
j Dight, decorated, decked.
\ Discrif, descrii>ed, formed.
\ Diskere, Dyskere, discover.
Do, dohC.
Glossary.
195
Doftvr, daughter.
Doght, fhoui^ht.
I )ole, sorrow., grief.
Dolys, doles, deals, or money dis-
tributed to the poor, from a
religious inotive.
I )ome, Judgment.
Dondec, thunder.
Donked, thanked.
Donne, dun, dim.
Dorth, through.
Dough, though.
Dour, endure.
Dowte, doubt, aive, Jear.
Drake, dragon, S.
I )ra\ve, thra-,t.<, throiv, time, space.
Drede, dread, fear, terror.
Dreche, vex, trotible, torment, S.
Drench, drink.
Drewries, Jexveis.
Dreye, Dreygh, Drye, bear, sus-
tain,- endure, suffer, S.
Drof, drove, drifted, sailed.
Drogh, Droghe, Drowe, dre'v.
Dromedaryes, large ships, more
properly dromonds or dro-
mants, Y .
Drowe ; cjuike to drowe, to draw
alive.
Drury, gallantry, illicit love ;
dreary.
Dr}'e, tedious, irksome.
Drynge, throng
l)r\ve, driven.
Dulcemere, a dulcimer.
Duere, dear.
Durstede, thirsted.
Dwergh, Dwerk, a divarf
Dy, thy.
D\ dyrward, thitherward.
Dyght, Dyghte, cut and serve :
dressed, prepared.
Dyke, a ditch.
Dykke, thick.
Dyne, thine.
Dvnge, din, noise, clash of arms.
Dyscry, describe, disco nl
Dyskere, discover.
Dysour, talker, or tale-teller.
Dyssees, decease.
Dystawnce, discord, pride.
Echadell, each a deal, very much.
Ede, Eode, Eoden, went.
Eem, Erne, uncle.
Eft, Efte, after, aftef~'ward.
Effect. See Estyrs.
Eglehorne. An egkyl appears
to be a species of hawk.
Egyll, eagle.
Elde, age.
Encheson, Enchesowne, cause,
occasion, reason.
Endose, sitting at home, as it
were, with his back against a
chair ; endosser, V.
Enoynt, annointed.
Enterement, interment.
Envye, dislike, hatred, malice.
Er, Err, aie.
Erd}iy, earthly.
Ern, an eagle, S.
Ernde, yearn, desired.
Errour, course, running.
Erst, before.
Ertou, Ertow ? art thou ?
Erynde, e?-rand.
Esse, ease.
Estyrs, the inward parts of a
building; or, a ceo J ding to
Hearne, " states, conditions,
thi/igs f esires, V.
\ Ethe, easily.
i EveneUche, evcrJy, equally.
I Everuchen, every one.
I Evyl, a disease, a disorder, a fit
of madness.
Eyer, Eyr, air.
1 Ea, a foe, enemy.
I I'achon, a faulchion, a sword.
FadersowKy^7//tV-".v soul.
I Eaide,/cvZ
Eaie, Eel, Eele, Feole, vutny.
Faleweden, fallowed.
l'"ame, defame.
196
ClossiU-f.
Famen, foemen, ene/nies.
Fand, Yande, found.
Fang, catch, seize, lay hold of,
take, receive.
Farde, fared.
Farn, fared ; How has to farn
this day? Hozv hast thou fared
to-day]
Faun plate, \''amplat, or Avant
plat, an iron plate, which de-
fended, in fro)it, a cavity for
the reception of the hand, near
the I'ntt end of a tilting-spear :
avant and plat, F.
Fase, foes,
Fasoun, Faisyoune, fashion,
form.
Faunt, infant.
Faxe, hair.
Fawe, glad, as fain. See Fayn.
Fawtede, faulted, failed, was
wanting to.
Fay, faith.
Fayn, Faync, fain, joyful, glad,
gladly, S.
Fa)'ne, joy, gladness.
Fayntise, idleness, laziness, sloth
(which might prevent their
rising) ; faineafitise, F.
Fayrse, Fyers, fierce.
Fayry, a fairy ism, or appearance
of the imaginary spirits so
called. Fayry e, fairy- land,
magic, illus.on.
Feare, fair.
Vtcchc, fetch, S.
Feer, fierce, fire.
Felaiiradj, C'uMiten felauradc,
Felawrede, a felloivship, or
company ; few or many ; a
christian nation ; an army of
60,000 knights ;
Vc\d, folded.
Fell, a mountain.
Felle, skin.
Feloun, wicked, fierce, cruel.
Feltred, /^//tvri/, hairy, shaggy.
Fchvet. velvet.
Femyn, venom.
P'en ; fowyll fen, 7nud, 7nire, filth.
Fend, defend ; F'endes, fiends,
dtvils.
F'ennell, fennel.
Feorlych, 7C'onderful.
F'er, Fere, fear ; fire.
Fer, ¥i^or,far.
Ferd, Ferde, fared, happened, S.
Fere, In fere, /// company, to-
gether, as companions ; Fere,
healthy, sound; cure, heal;
wife, companion. Feren,
I'^ercs, companions, friends,
felloics. Fcndes fere, com-
panion of devils. Withouten
fere, without equal.
Ferly fayne, wonderously glad,
or joyful. Ferly fare, strange
chance.
¥G?,i, fastened.
F^ete, Fett, fetched : l-'ette, fetch.
Fewte, fealty.
Feyre, fair. Feyrhade, F'eyr-
nesse, fairness, hcautv.
V\'h, fight.
l'"lankys, Taste my flankys, feel
my flanks, sides, or loins.
I'"hiLigh, F!a\ve, Y\t\^,fleiv,fled.
P'lemed, banished, S.
Fie on, flee.
Fleoten, float, or sail. Fleted,
VX^i'icn, floated.
Flet, parlour, antechamber, S.
Flette, flood, fleet.
Flites, scolds. Flyt, scolding,
scandal, or ill 7i<ords. Flyte,
chide, S.
1"'1(), flay, flea. Mogh. flayed.
Mome, river.
Floranse, Florences, florin,
florins, or francs, ancient coin
of France.
Florysseth, flourished.
Flottered, hovered, swam, floated:
Flotter, V.
i*'lustc, fluslied, or pushed.
Fode, food. Fode, I'oode,
Glossary.
197
well-bred, (sub. chiM, youth,
or person spoken (?/), S.
Folow, followed.
Fon, ioow,foes.
Fonde, meet with, receive.
Fonge, take, S.
Forbode, i?ijiuiction, prohibi-
tion, S.
Force, male na force, take 710
heed, have no care.
For fare, lose, forfeit, rui?i,
destroy. Forfard, lost. For-
farn, lose, throw away, S.
Forkarf, caved through.
Forleose, to lose e?itirely, S.
Forlete, to give over; to quit, S.
Forlore, lost, S.
Formast, foremost.
Forne, for.
Forord, furred.
Forows, furrows.
For-tethe, fore-teeth.
Forther fete, fore-feet.
Forthy, therefor, for this, for
that, S.
Forward, promise, covenant, con-
dition, agree?ne?if, S.
Foryaf, forgave. Fonef,forgive.
Foryelde, reward, recompense,
make amends.
Founde, endeavotcr, attempt.
Frayned, asked, demanded, en-
quired.
Fredde, freed.
Frek, man.
Fremede, stranger.
Frith, Fryght, 7VOod, forest.
Frythes, woods, forests.
Froted, rubbed, or scrubbed.
Fu, full.
Fun, Funden, found. Fund-
ling, foundling.
Furryth, furred.
Fursoun, foison, plenty.
Fylde, field.
Fyle, vile, foul.
Fyne, finished, accomplished ;
fine, F,
Fythelers, fiddlers.
Gabbest, sayest.
Gabuls, cables.
Galowe-tre, gallows, S.
Game, Qj:x\Ti\x\, pleasure, sport, S.
Gan, began to; Gane, go, or have
g07ie.
Gane, Gayne, Gaynest, near,
nearest.
Garnarde, a wine <?/" Granada.
Garson, youth or young man,
knight or soldier ; gar9on, F.
Garye. See the ?iote on Emare.
V. 1032.
Gase, goes.
Gate, 7vay. Gatys, 7vays.
Gateward, porter.
Gayne-come, coming again, re-
turn; or, possibly, meeting, S.
Gedering, gatheritig. Gedyrd,
gathered.
Ger, Gar, cause, make. Gert,
caused, made.
Gertte, girt, girded.
Gent, Gente, neat, pretty, F.
Ger, Gere, geer, apparel, neces-
saries.
Gest, a romance. Gestours,
mi7istrels.
Gestes, guests.
Get, her of yet, goat, goafs hair.
Geth, goeth.
Getron, gittern, cittern.
Gilry, deceit.
(ile, glee, mirth, minstrelsy.
Glede, a bright fire, a burning
coal, blaze, fiame, or spark.
Glemed, gleamed, glittered, shone.
See Leomede.
Gleynge, melody, minstrelsy.
Glode, glid, glided.
Gode, good, alms.
Godele, godly, S.
Godneday, good day.
Gome, man; (iomen, Gomes,
men.
2 c
198
Glossary.
Goo, go.
Gore, 7nud, mife^ dirt.
Gorgete, ogori:;et ; gorgerette, F.
Gram, mischiefs injury, anger.
Gramercy, viaiiy thanks.
Gray. See Grys.
Grayd, fitted up.
Graythly, readily.
Gredde, cried, wept; Grede,
cry, S.
Grenes, greenness.
Gret, greeted. Grette, 7vept.
Greves, groves ?
Griht, Gryght, peace, S.
Grisely, dreadful.
Gro. See Grys.
Grome, a man-setTant.
Groiied, grezv.
Gruf, gravel groveling?
Grunden, ground, sharpened.
Grjile, harm.
Grym, 02it of humour, stern,
austere.
Grys, fur, fnvn a kind of weasel :
gris, F.
Guide, gold.
Gurden, girded, s^irt.
Gyf, //
Gyle, guile.
Gylle, a glen.
Gyn, Gynne, contrivance.
Gynnynge, begitining.
Gypell, an outivard garment.
Gysarmes, a sort of halberd :
Guisarme, F.
Ha, have.
Habbe, have.
Habergeons, coats of mail.
Habide, Habides, abide.
Haby. See Aby.
Hailsed, Haylsed, saluted.
Halde, hold, prison, castle.
Hale, Hoole, whole. Halelv,
Holly, wholely.
Hales, halls. Hales in the hall,
holes.
Halp, holpe, helped.
Hals, neck, throat, S.
Halt, held, holds.
Halvendel, half.
Haly gast, holy ghost.
Ham, thetn.
Hame, ho7ne.
Han, have.
Happe, coz'er, or bind, with the
bed-clothes.
Har, their.
Harbroughe, Harburgerye, har-
bour, lodgirig.
Harburgens. See Habergeons.
Harowed, harried, plundered,
7-avaged.
Hase, hoarse.
Hat, ordered, commanded, called.
Hate, hath, hot.
Hatte, hight, called, named, is
called.
Hauberke, Hawberk, coat of
I mail. See Brunie.
He, she, they.
Heare, Heere, hair.
Hedur-cum, hither-conung, ar-
7-ival.
Hcdurward, hithencard.
Heed, head.
Heele, danger.
Heire, higher.
Hele, cover, conceal, hide : health,
welfare.
■ Helt, /^v/nv/.
Hem, them.
' Hende, kind, civil, polite.
\ Hendely, kindly, 6-r.
i Henge, hung.
I Henne, hence.
Hent, Hente, to take, catch, or
receive ; took or caught.
Heo, she.
Heore, their.
Her, hear, her, here, their, ere,
before.
Herbers, harbours, lodges. Her-
berd, harboitred, lodged.
Here, hair, hear.
Heried. See Harowed.
Glossary.
199
Herlotes, Imse varlets, worthless
knaves.
Hern-pan, h-ain-pan, skull.
Heryn, cave, secret place, S.
Heste, to command.
Hete, to promise, or assure.
Hethin, hence.
Hette, commanded, was called.
Hevyd, head.
Hilles, protects, preserves.
Hire, her.
Heyle, conceal.
High-dayes, Hyegh-deys, great
feasts.
Hight, promised, undertaken.
Hingand, hanging.
Hinde. See Hende.
Ho, who. Ho, Hoo, stop,
cease, desist.
Hodur, hudder, hug.
Ho], whole, sound.
Holde, firm, faithful, S.
Holies hore, Holtys hore, a
grove, forest, or wood.
Hone, i'/^^w^/ honte, F. '■'■ Honi
soit qui 7nal y pense."
Honge, hafig. Hongeth,
hanged.
Hope, expect, s2ippose, fear.
Horde, sharp or pointed spears.
Hore, hoary, grey. See Holtes.
Hore, ivhore.
Horedam, whoredom.
Hos, hoarse.
Hoscht, hushed.
Hose, whoso.
Hoselde, ho use led him, i.e., ad-
ministered the eucharist, S
Hostell, ifin, lodging.
Hote, Hoten, called, named.
Hoth, heath.
Hove, dubbed.
Hovede, hovered, stayed, stood
still. Hoveth, hovers.
Hue, he, she, they. Huem,
tliem. Huere, Hure, their.
Huert, heart.
Hulles, hill.
Hume, cave, hole, corner, or
niche, S.
Hutte, hit.
Huyde, Huyden, hide.
Hy, she, they. In hy, in haste.
Hyde, hide, skin.
Hydose, hideous.
Hyght, Hyghth, called or named.
Hyne, it.
Hynge, hang.
Hyre, her.
Ibite, taste, drink.
I bore, hoi-n..
Ichul, I shall.
Iheled, covered.
Ikarneled, castellated, em-
battelled.
Ilk, same.
Ilka, each, every. Ilkane, each
one, every o?ie.
Ipelvred, furred.
Is, his.
Isclayne, slain.
Iwent, gone.
Jennettes, mares.
Jerfawncon, a species of hawk.
Jewyse, capital punishnient, exe
cution : ber jewyse, suffer
punishment.
Jogelers, jugglers, minstrels.
]o\yi. Jolly.
Jorne, Journey, walk.
Juell, Jewel.
Justus, Justs.
Kan, knows.
Kantell, cantle, piece.
Kardevyle, Karlof, Karlyle, Car-
lisle.
Karl. See Carl.
Karlyoun, Caerleon.
Karpet, said, prated.
Karping, talk, prate, intemperate.
Kayme, Cain.
Kaytyf, caitif wretcli.
Kecche, catch.
200
Glossary.
Kedde, k7ieu\ shewed.
Keele, cool, Keldo, cold.
Kelle, cawl, cap, hood, or head-
dress.
Ken, kfiotv, inform. Kend,
knetv.
Kende, Kenne, kind, kin, kin-
dred.
Kennes, kind, sort of.
Kepe, care, heed, 7ioiice.
Kerteles, kirtles, petticoats.
Kervore, can'er.
Kest, cast, thmv.
Keste, kissed.
Keth and Kende, Kyth and
Kin, acquaintance and kin-
dred.
Kevechers, kerchiefs.
Kevere, recover. Kevered, Ke-
verede, Koverede, recovered.
Kirk, church.
Kind, nature.
Kith, shew.
Kleke, click, catch, snatch,
Klypped, clipped, clasped, em-
Irraced.
Knagg, the ti?ie of a heart, or
wooden pin, used to ha}ig any
thing upon.
Knave, a boy, page, or man-
servant, S.
Kownand, covenant.
Kowrs, covers.
Kowth, cotdd, knew how.
Kroupe, croup, the ridge of the
back. See Cropoun.
Kun, can, will, knotcs ho7v.
Kurtull, a kirtle, outer peeticoat.
Kuss, kiss.
Kyd, Kydde, known.
Kyght, country, S.
Kynde, kind, race.
Kyndeli, Jiaturally.
Kyrtell, bed-goT.vti.
Kyth, Kythe, shew, try, prove.
'Lzlc, fault, defect,
Ladd, led.
Laft, left.
Lagh, laugh, Laght, Lawe, Logh,
Lowe, Lowgh, laughed.
Lahte, latched, caught, acquired,
learned.
I.aine, At laine, Layne, to con-
ceal. Layned, cojicealed.
Lake, lack, watit.
Lange, to long, belong.
Lappe, efifold, embrace.
Large, generous, liberal, Iwunti-
ful
Largesse, ge7ierosity, liberality.
Lasse, less.
Late, let, stop.
Lath, loth.
Lavedy, lady.
Lavendere, a laundress, or
washerivotnan,
Lavorock, lark.
Lawnd, sward.
Lay, laiv, religion. Lays, la7vs.
Laye, bet, 7C'ager.
Layn, conceal it, be silent.
Layt, late, seek, search.
Lebard, leopard.
Leche, a leech, a physician.
Ledd, lead.
Lede, lead. Lede, Leede, any
land or country, lond, and
lede; la7v, faith, religion,
niati or people, S.
Leef, love.
Leende, tvait, stay.
Lees, Les, lyes, or a lye ; Les-
inges, lyes, S.
Leeven, believe.
Lef, Lefe, lovt?ig, friendly, affec-
tionate.
Lefsome, lovely.
Legge, lay down. S.
Leghed, laid \false accusations\
Lei, Lele, true. Lely truely.
Leman, a 7vife, sweetheart, mis-
tress ; a term of endearjnent ;
a concubine. Lemannys, gal-
lants.
Leme, gleam, glisten, shine.
Glossary.
201
Leomede, gkajfied, glistened,
shone.
Lende, sta\\ remain.
Lene, lend, lean,
Lengell. See Lyngell.
Lengor, longer.
Lenkith, length.
Lent, leaned.
Leode, lead., bririg.
Lepe, leaped.
Lepes, leaps, stories, lies.
Lere, Lere, Leren, learn, teach,
inform.
Lese, leash.
Leste, please. At the leste, at
the least.
Let, hinder, deprive, obstruct, fail.
Lete, lose.
Lethir, wicked, dajigerous. See
Lither.
Lette, delay. Lettyd, let, stayed.
Leve, beloved.
Leve, Yleve, / believe, live.
Levyth, liveth.
Levening, lightening.
Lever, Levyr, rather, sooner.
Leveste, Levyst, most desirous.
Levore, lever, mace.
Lewte, loyalty.
Ley, lay, tale in verse.
Leyre, Lire, Lyre, cheek, face,
colour, complexion thereof
Libbe, lives. Lifand, living.
Lig, lie. Ligger, liar. Lig-
gunde, lyiTig.
Lightli, easily.
Liked, licked.
Limes, lymes, limbs.
Listes, arts, S.
Lite, little. Led with Hte,
treated her with indifference.
Lither, zvicked, S.
Live, life.
Lodlick, loathly. Lodlokest,
Lotlokste, loathliest.
Logge, lodge.
Londe. Wei londe, i.e., off or
from the land.
Longe, lungs.
Loos, wyckkede loos, bad repu-
tation.
Looveyd, praised.
Lorayns, reijis.
Lore, learning. My lore, 7ny
speech, ivhat I am about to say.
Lorell, a scoundrel.
Lorn, lost.
Los, Lose, Loos, praise, fame,
report, in a good or bad sense.
Losed, lost.
Losenjoure, flatterer, parasite,
deceiver.
Louding, lauding, praising.
Loure, sad, discontented, douni-
cast.
Loverd, lord.
Loverd-suyke, treacherous, guilty
of high treason?
Lowe, a fire, blaze, or flame ;
hill
Lowthe, loud.
Luef, love. Lufsom, Lufsume,
lovely. Lufsummer, lovelier.
Lust, desire, wish.
Lut, fetv. A lute wiht, a light
blow.
Lyfand, living.
Lyfe, See Leve.
Lyflothe, livelihood.
Lygg, lie, or lie ztnth.
Lyghted, lightened, made lighter.
Lyghth, alighted.
Lyghtly, readily.
Lyg>'ng, lyi?ig.
Lyht, lyeth.
Lym, lime.
Lynde, lime, and hence, flgura-
tively, a tree, or a clump of
trees, in general.
I^ynne, stop, cease.
Lyre. See Leyre.
Lythe, Londes or lythes, Londys
lythys, and rente, plains.
lA'the, listen, attend.
Lythyr. See Lither.
Lyte, light.
2 D
202
Glossary.
Lytte, /itt/e.
Lyve, iife.
Ma, more, make.
Maad, mad.
Maght, might.
Main, force, strength.
Maistri, mastery, mastership,
superiority, perfection.
Make, make.
Mall, 7na/kt.
Malmesyne, malmsey; mal-
voisie, F.
Malt, melted.
Manne, jnean, moan.
Maner, majior.
Mane sworn, inafisworji, per-
jured.
Mangere, feast. Mangeri, peast-
ing.
Mankyn, mankind.
Mas, Mase, makes.
Maser-tre, 7naple, or ivild ash.
Mate, dead, stupified, cof fused
senseless.
Mametes, Mammettes, idols.
Maumetrie, idolatry, or idol-
7Vorship, Mahometism.
Marlin, the merlin.
Mavis, thrush.
May, maid, damsel, virgin.
Mayne. See Main, ]\Iayne,
Menye.
Maysterye, magic, necromancy.
Meate, meet.
Me, men.
Mede, meed, i-ecotnpence, reivaj'd.
Mekyl, much.
Melle, medley, quarrel, disturb-
ance.
Meng, fiiix, miiigle.
Menske, decency.
Minstralcy, jninstrelsy, musical
petformance.
Ment, hieiv'i
Meny, attendants, se?'vants.
Menye, family, household, attend-
ants.
Merlyon, tnerlin, a species of
hawk; emerillon, F.
Mess, 7nass.
Mese, dishes, dinner.
Meselle, a leper.
Mester, jnystery, business ; nies-
tier, F.
ISIeteles, meatless.
Mette, mate.
Mewse, to muse, or meditate.
Mid, Mide, Myd, unth. Mitte,
itnth thee.
Misforschapen, misshapen.
Mister. See Myster.
Mo, Moo, more.
Mody, moody.
Moght, might.
Mold, Molde, mould, earth :
head, or crown of the head.
Mon, must.
Monhede, marihood.
Moni falde, many fold.
Mornyng, mourning.
Mote, might, tnay ; moot, con-
tend.
Mountance, Mountawnse,
Mountenaunce, aviou7it.
Mowne, 7nay.
Moyles, 77iules.
Munstral, 7/ii7istrel.
Munt, 7ni7id.
iSIuscadell, a F7-e/ich wine.
Mustre, 7nihster.
]\Iut, 7night.
Myddyllerd, Mydle-erde, the
earth.
Mykel, 7?iuch.
Myld, 7nerciful.
Myn owe, mi7ie owji.
Myn, Mynne, less.
Mynge, hi7/iself re77ii7ided, or
7/ie/iti07i /nade, S.
Mynt, threatened, attei/ipted,
threat, attempt.
Myrght, mirth.
Myslikeing, Myslykyng, dislike,
or disgust.
Mysrede, i/iisadvhe, misteach.
Glossary
203
Myssa)', to belie, tcrong.
Myster, Mystyr, need, zvant.
Nakyn, no kitid of.
Name, Namm, Nom, Nome, took.
Nanes, for the nanes, for the
7ionce.
Nast (ne hast), hast thou not.
Nay, 7ieigh.
Neeve, 7iieve,fist, or clasped hand.
Neghed, nighed, drew near.
Neght, nigh.
Nell, -will not.
Nempne, na)>ie. Nempnede,
named.
Nere, were not.
Nerre, nearer.
Nese, a nose.
Nessche ne harde, soft nor hard, S.
Nete, an ox.
Nevyn, naine, Nevys, na^nes.
Ne)', eye.
Nobiliary, iiobleness, nobility.
Nolde, ne wolde, would not.
Nome, 7ia7ne.
Nonieliche, 7ia7nely.
Nones, Noonys. See Nanes.
Noon, 7io7ie.
Noonre, a 7iu7inery.
Nortour, 7iurture.
Not, 7ie ti'ot, -wot 7l0t, kn07i' 7lOt.
Noth, Nothe, oath.
Nouthe, 710W, 7iothing.
Nower, 710 where.
Nowther, 7ieither.
Noyes, 7ioise, grief, la7/ie7itatio7i.
Nully, 7ie will I, I icill 7iot.
Nuste, Nyste, wist 7iot, k7ieiv 7iot.
Nuthake, 7iuthatch.
Nycke, 7ieck.
Nyghyng, approaching, d7'awi7ig
7iear.
Nys, 7iice, foolish ; niais, F.
Nythyng, a zvicked or goodfor-
7lOthi7lg 77ia7l.
Occient, occide7it, west.
Odoun, down, or adown.
Odur, Odyr, other, others.
Ofte-sithes, oft-times.
Ogains, against.
Ogayne, agaiii.
Oght, owed, 07V7ied.
Olyfant, elephant.
Olyroun. See the note on
Launfal, V. 1023.
01y\"e, alive, life.
Omell, a7nong.
On, 07ie.
Onane, a7ion.
Onde, hate, hat7-ed.
Oo, Oon, 07ie.
Oolde, old.
Oones, once.
Oost, host.
Ord, poi7it, begin7ii7ig.
Ore, grace, favour.
Orgcnes, orga7is.
Oryall, Oryall-side, a 7-ecess.
Orybylle, horrible.
Os, as.
Ostel, Ostell, an inn.
Osylt, ousel
Other, or.
Ou-selven, Ou-seluen tueie,
your two selves.
Out-beode, be ordered out.
Out-take, Owt-takyn, except, or
excepti/ig.
Over-blenche, ove7-set.
Over-geld, over-gilt.
Overt, open.
Overtwert, ove7'thwart.
Ovyr-hylte, covered over.
Ovyr-tyte, over soo/i.
Ow, you.
Ov.'the, owe.
Owther, cither.
Paid, paid, satisfied, co7itent.
Paiens, Payens, Payenes, Paynes,
Payns, Fagans,heathe7is, Sa7a-
cens, £)anes.
Pales, Paleys, a palace.
Palle, fne cloth.
Pal mere, a pilg7-i7n.
204
Glossary.
Panele, stuffed cushion.
Panter, an officer of the pantry.
Parage, kindred.
Parayle, rank, pareille, F.
Parell, peri/, dangers.
Pase, pass.
Paynime, in the manner of the
Pagans ; a la Payenne, F.
Paytrelle, poitrinal, pectoral, or
breast-plate ; poitrail, F.
Pece, a cup, or drinking-vessel.
Pee, magpie.
Pe]l,>r.
Pelryne, pilgrim, or palmer ;
pelerin, F.
Pelvred, furred.
Pende, hond.
Pensel, penon, baiiner.
Pere, pear.
Perfay, by my faith.
Perfounde, profoimd.
Perre, Perry, Jewels, precious
stones ; pierreries, F.
Perys, pears.
Pese, peace.
Pine, pain, punishment.
Plawe, play.
Playn pase, fill speed.
Playnere, Plener, Pleyner, full,
fully, plentiful, complete.
Plevyne, warranty, assurance;
pleuvine, F.
Plex, shield.
Pleye, play, disport.
Plyght, pledge, assure.
Pole, a pool. Foles, pools.
Pomels, balls, apples.
Pomely, dappled, Pomelee, F.
Popinjayes, parrots.
Poscescon, possession.
Pouste, Powste, potver.
Pover, poor ; pauvre, F.
Poverly, poorly, pitifully, sneak-
ingly.
Povert, poverty.
Po\ le, apulia.
Poynt, point.
Praye, prey.
Pres, a press, or crotvd.
Preke, Prike, to prick, spur, ride,
gallop. Prekand, pricking.
&c.
Presand, presented it to.
Present, presence.
Presoun, Prisoun, Prysoun,
prisoner, captive.
Prest, prompt, ready.
Presyd, pressed, thronged.
Prime, three o'clock. .
Prow, Pro we, advantage,prowess,
ho?iour.
Vry^e, price, value.
Puple, people.
Purchase, acquisition.
Vuryd, furred.
Purpur, purple.
Puste, pushed.
Pych, pitch.
Pyght, pitched.
Pylte, bet, bruised ; pilan, S.
Pyment, a mixture of wine,
honey, a7id spices.
Pysane, some part of the coat-
armour.
Quarell, the dart of the cross-boxv.
Qued, the damned.
Quelle, kill. Quelthe, killed.
Queme, to please.
Quere, qjiire, choir.
Quert, heart, coeur, F.
Quest, inquest, assize, trial.
Queynte, quaint, skilful.
Queynte, quaint
Quit, rewarded. Quite, quit.
Questeroun, cooks.
Quoke, quaked.
Quyn, whin, fiirze.
Quyt, quit.
Quyte-claymed, discharged.
Quytt, rewarded.
Qwelle, to kill.
Rach, a bitch hound.
Radde, red,
Rafe, rove, tore.
Glossary.
20:
Raft, reft.
Rakede, walked apace.
Rampande, rampant.
Randoun, at raiidom.
Rappes, blows.
Rase, rose.
Rath, quick, soon.
Ray, Cloth of ray ivas cloth not
coloured.
Raye, a title.
Rayme, cry out against, S.
Rayne, cloth of Refines,
Real, royal.
Recche, Recke, care.
Recomforde, recomforted.
Recorde, recorder.
Recreant, coward.
Red, advised, counselled.
Redd, Rede, advice, coimsel
Redies him ,makes hiinself ready.
Rees. See Rese.
Reft, bereaved.
Relygyons, jnonks, hermits.
Reme, rim, imbank, S.
Remes, realms.
Ren, ran. Rennande, Renin,
ru?ining. Rennyth, riaineth.
Renable, reasofiable.
Reprefe, Repreofing, reproof.
Rerde, cry, roar.
Reryd, reared, raised.
Rese, race, course, with force.
Respice, a wine.
Reuthe, ruth, sorrow.
Reykyd, raked, went hastily.
Reve, bereave, rob.
Reven, tor?t.
Reyset, receiver of stolen goods.
Reyn, rain.
Ribible, a sort of fiddle, with
three strings.
Rinand, running.
Roche, rock.
Rochell, a French wine.
Rod, Rode, rood, cross.
Rode, colour, co7nplexio7i.
Rofe, rove, tore.
Roght, recked, cared.
Romaynce, Rofnafis.
Rope, cry out.
Rose-reed, Rosyne, rosy, rose-
coloured.
Rote, a mafidolin or hurdy-
gurdy.
Rothe. See Rod.
Roune, murjnur.
Rouse, red.
Rowme, roo?ny, wide.
Rowlhe, ruth.
Rowncy, a road, or cart horse.
Rowned, whispered.
Rudde. See Rode.
Ruddock, a red-breast.
Rumney, a wine, Rotnanee.
Rustus, rust.
Ryall, royal.
Ryche, realm, kingdom.
Rydyght, rideth.
Ryfe, rife, cotnmon, plentiful
Ryg, back.
Rygge, ridge.
Ryght wes, Ryght wyse, Ryht
wes, righteotis.
Rys, Ryse, brafich, twig.
Ryke. See Ryche.
Ryne, hoarfrost.
Ryve, shore; rive, F.; to tear^
arrive. Ryved, arrived.
Sagh, saw.
Saght, sight 1 Saghteled, settled.
Saghtelyng, a settling, or
agreement.
Saint, cincture, girdle; ceinct,
or ceincture, F.
Sakles, sackless, innocent.
Sal, shall.
Sale, Salle, a hall ; salle, F.
Salmes, psalms.
Sambus, saddle-cloth; sambue, F.
Same, Samen, Samin, Samyn,
In or Yn same, together.
Samyte, a rich silk.
Sar, Sare, sore. Sari, sorry, sor-
rowful. Sarily, sorrowfully.
Saugh, saw.
2 E
2o6
Glossary.
Sawe, speech, 7t>ords, sayings.
Sawnfaile, unthout doubt.
Sawter//^^ psalter.
Sawtry, a psaltery.
Say, a sort of stuff.
Sayn, say. Sayne, sign. Sayned
him, crossed himself, or Jiiade
the sign of the cross.
Sayde, assayed.
Scath, har?n.
Schalmuses, schalms.
Schare, Share, shore, cut.
Schawe, shade, grove.
Sche, she.
Schend, put to death, kill.
Schende, defame, injure, hurt.
Schent, ruined, undone.
Schene, shining.
Schepe, a ship.
Schere,y)-^i?, clear.
Schilde, shield. Schelde, shield,
prevent.
Scho, she.
Schold, Schud, should.
Scheme, shame.
Schop, formed, made.
Schrede, screen, dress himself.
Schrewe, shrew, atrocious rascal
Schrive, Schryve, confess (to a
priest).
Schyre, clear.
Scill, skill, cause, reason, advice,
art, ktiorvledge.
Sclawe, slain.
Sclegh, sly.
Sclo, to be slain.
Scryed, discovered, described.
Scyverede, shivered.
Se, see, look to, regard, preserve.
Seek, seke, sick.
Segge, say. Seggeth, says.
Seh, saw.
Seker, Sekyr, certaift, sure.
Sekernes, certainty.
Selcouth, strafige.
Selde, seldom.
Selly, silly, foolish ; folly.
Selve, self satne.
Sembelde, assembled.
Sembland, semblance.
Semblant, welcome.
Sembyll, assemble.
Semelant, resemblatice.
Semelych, seemly.
Sen, si7ice.
Sendell, a thin silk.
Sent, consent.
Sensours, censers, incense-pots.
Ser, Sere, several, different.
Sere, sir. Serrys, sirs.
Sered, ce7-ed (ivith a cere-
cloth).
Serewe, Serwe, sorrow.
Serke, sark, shirt.
Servandes, ser-jants.
Sese, sees ; cease.
Sesowne, season, tifne.
Sete, sat.
Seth, seethed, boiled.
Sethen, Sethyn, Seththe, Sey-
then, sifice, aftenvard.
Seve, seven.
Seygh, saw.
Seylys, sails.
Shame, ashamed.
Share, scar, cut.
Shaw's, coppices.
Shenche, serve.
Shene, sJmiing.
Shete, shoot.
Sho, she.
Shonde, harm, mischief.
Shoope. See Schop.
Shrede, to clad, or clothe.
Sibbc, related, allied.
Sith, Sithes, time, times.
Skalde, scold, ill tongued.
Skapy, to escape.
Skath, harm, loss.
?)kexe, free, clear, quit, acquit.
Sket, ready, apt, S.
Skeyre, squire.
Slake, to cool, slacken, decline.
Slape, sleep.
Slen, slay.
SUk, SHke, such.
Glossary.
207
SIo, slay. Slogh, skw. Slon,
SIoo, slay.
Slod, s/id.
Slope, asleep.
Slouthe, sloth.
Smertly, quickly.
Snell, quick, sharp, active.
Snytes, s?iipes.
So, as.
Softe, so7ight.
Sold, Solde, Suld, should, should
be.
Solers, upper rooms, garrets.
Somers, Somer-horses, sumpter-
horses^ loaded, or carrying
baggage: sommiers, F.
Somned, su?fimoned.
Sond, Sonde, a message, or
messenger.
Sonde, satid.
Sote, sweet.
Soth, truth.
Sothely, truely.
Sothen, sodden.
Sotheyr, soother, more true.
Sowdears, soldiers.
Sowpeth, stipped.
Soyorne, sojourn.
Sparryd, shut, fastened, bolted.
Spec, spoke, or bespoke.
Spell, speech, story, tale.
Sper, Spir, to ask, or enquire.
Sperd, Sperred. See Sparryd.
Spreteth, spreadeth.
Spylle, die, be p2it to death.
Spyr. See Sper.
Stabull, establish.
Stad, Stadde, bested, circum-
stanced.
Stak, sttick, pulled to.
Stall, place, passage, entrance.
Stark, strotig.
Stat, state.
Sted. See Stad.
Stedd, Stede, place, or country.
Stekyth, sticketh.
Stepul, steeple.
Stere, steer, govern, manage.
Sterve, starve, die.
Sterye, steer.
Stevene, Stevyn, voice, soimd,
speech.
Stighteld, strengthened.
Stirt, started.
Stoken, stuck, fastetied.
Stokkes, stocks.
Stonayd, astoftished.
Stor, Store, loud, blustering.
Store, stir, stark.
Stour, Stoure, Stowr, Stowre,
difficulty, danger, battle.
Stownde, space of time.
Strath, straight.
Stre, straw.
Strekk, stretching, passing, S.
Stroye, destroy.
Stryndo, strain, race, descent.
Stude, steeds, horses.
Sture, steer.
Sturn, stern.
Sty, place, house, building, S.
Styk, stitch, woiinded, S.
Stynte, sti7it, stop, stay.
Stythe, strong, S.
Suere, Swere, Svvyre, 7ieck.
Sugerneth, sojourneth.
Suggeth, say.
Suithe, Suythe, Swith, quick,
speedily, very.
Sumwet, somewhat.
Suykedom, treachery, treason.
Swa, so.
Svvare, neck (as an adjective, its
meaning is unknown).
Swart, black.
Swayne, ififerior servant.
Sweme, qualm.
Swevenyng, Swevyn, dream.
Swier, squire.
Swilk, such.
Swogh, swoon.
Swyke, hole, ditch,
Syclatowne, a circular robe of
state.
Syde. See Sythe.
Sye, Sygh, saw.
2o8
Glossary.
Sygh, Syght. See Sythe.
Sygned, assigned.
Syke, Syken, sick, sigh.
Sykyrlyke, certainly, surely.
Symplyte, simplicity, or simple-
ness.
Syrrys, sirs.
Sy tole, « citole (a kindofdulcitner) .
Sythe, side, afterivard, since.
Syttand, sitting.
Ta, take, betake.
Talvace, a large shield.
Tan, Tane, take, taken. Tase,
takes.
Tane, Ofie.
Teem, sons, issue.
Telde, told ; lodge.
Teme, teemed.
Teen, Tene, Teon, Teone,
sorrow, passio7i, anger. Tene,
slay. Teon, take, or betake.
Tent, heed, attend.
Tha, these.
Thartyll, thereto.
Thawghte, Thawghth, taught.
Thay, day.
The, thee. The, Thee, thrive.
Thede, did.
Thede, lajid, natiott, country,
kingdom, S.
Theder, thither.
Theer, deer.
Thenche, think.
TheodiQ, faith, belief, religion.
Thepartyth, departeth.
Therforne, therefor.
Thethin, thence.
Thewe, virtue, good fnanfiers
They, though.
Thilke, this, this same.
Thir, these.
Tho, thcfi ; do.
Thogh, doth.
Thoghte, thought.
Thoghty, Thoughty, doughty.
Thoghtyer, doughtier.
Thole, suffer, u7idergo.
Thonor, thwider.
Thoo, then ; those.
Thore, there.
Thores, doors.
Thorst, Thorste, durst.
Thoune, down.
Thowghter, datighter.
Thra, Thro, eager, fierce, desirous.
Thral, Thrall, slave, captive, base
wretch. Thralhede, state of
slavery or captivity.
Thraw, Thro, Throo, Throw,
short space of tifne, trice.
Thriswald, threshold.
Throo, Throwe, troubled, afflicted,
sorrowful?
Thrydd, Thrydde, third.
Thrynge, throng.
Thuncketh, thinketh.
Thus-gate, thus-wise, this-ivay.
Thwang, thong.
Thyll, ////.
Thynke, thifig.
Tide, betide.
Tint, lost.
Tit, received, took?
Tite, soon, quickly. Titter,
sooner.
Tithand, Tithandes, Tithyng,
tidings, news.
To, thou ; till ; toe ; too.
Too, took.
To-breste, burst.
To-drevet, driven, purstied.
Todur, other, others.
Tokenyng, token, keep-sake.
Tome, loom, teem, empty.
Too, take; to; toe.
To-dere, too dear.
To-rent, rent, torn.
To-scyverede, shivered.
To-ter}'s, tears (verb). To-tore,
torn.
To-whiles, meanwhile, mean-
time.
To-yeynes, against.
Traised, betrayed.
Traistedttrusted. Traystes, trusts.
Glossary.
209
I'raitour, betrayer.
Trappes, Trappur, Trappure.
See Lengell. Neither can be
discovered.
Tre, tree, wood.
Tredd, trod.
Trent e, embraced.
Trewes, Trues, truce.
Trist, sure.
Trompours, triwipeters.
Trofels, trifles.
Trowage, Truage, tribute.
Trowes, trowest, believest.
Trowth, truth.
Tr}'st, post or station.
Tryste, tt^st.
Turmentrye, tortnent, torture.
Tuye, Twyes, ttvice.
Twyn, twitie, part, separate.
Tyd, Tyte, quick, soofi.
Tyger, Tiber.
Tyght, begufi, pitched, fixed.
Tyre, attire, dress.
Uche, each.
Umage, homage.
Umbithought, bethought.
Umbraydest, upbraidest.
Umstrade, bestrode.
Undersonge, seize, catch, take,
f?ieet with.
Under molde, under earth.
Undertane, undertake.
Undo, open. Undone, prepared,
made ready for the spit.
Undern-tyde, Under-tyde, Un-
durne, tii7ie o'clock i?i the
morfting.
Undur-lace, a woman, from her
lace.
Undur the molde, zmder ground,
dead and buried.
Unement, ointment.
Ungayne, ?iot 7iear.
Unhele, ill-health, unhappifiess.
Unhende, uncivil, u?ipolite.
Unkunand, not cufining, un-
knoiving, ignorant.
Unnese, Unnethes, scarcely.
Unpees, ?io peace, war.
Unr) de, base, iniquitous, S.
Unsely, unhappy, u}ifortu7iate.
Unshet, Unsteke, utishut, open.
Unsyght, unseen.
Unther, under.
Unther-gare, Unther-kelle, Un-
ther-lyne, Unther serke, Un-
ther-wede, all figurative appel-
lations for you?ig women.
Unto, until.
Unwelde, u?iwieldy.
Urnare god, a good runner.
Urneth, runneth.
Us, Uus, use, habit, custom.
Usedenn, Jised.
Vacche, Vecche, watch.
Valour, value, importance.
Vassage, Vasselage, knight ser-
vice, valour, courage.
Vayage, voyage, journey, adven-
ttire.
"\^elany, Vyianye, villainy, evil,
baseness, impertinence, impro-
priety, ?nischief, injtay.
Veneri, hunting, the chase.
Ventall. See Aventayle.
Vernage, a wine.
Verraye, true. Verraiment,
Verrayment, truly.
Vurste, worst.
Vys, Vyys, face, coujitenance.
S\\7ch vys, so potverful.
WaJGur, wager.
Wald, wotild.
Wan, grow pale.
Wandreme, joylessness, tribula-
tion, agotiy of mind, S.
Wane, plenty.
War, wary, prudent, were, awai-e
of
\\'are, expend, spend, lay out.
Ward, ^^'ared, expended, were.
^^'ariso\vn, AV'arisowne, ^^'aryson,
help, cure, rexvard.
2 F
Glossar").
Warist, aired. \
^\'arm, worm, serpent. j
Warye, curse. j
Wate, knoiv.
Wax, Waxe, \\'ex, Wox, waxed.
Wawe, wave.
Wayte, serve.
Wedde, gage, pledge. \
Weddewede, widowhood. j
Wede, armour, apparel, dress,
robe, garment ; mad. \
Weders, wind, hail, rain, &'c.
Welde, wield, rule, govern. Me
to spouse welde, take me to
ivife.
Wele-lykeand, well-looking.
Wele-rinand, swift.
Welk, 7valked.
Wcmme,7^^r, S.
Wend, Wende, Wendes, Wen-
dyth, Wending, going, go,
depart.
"Went, go, gone, turned, S.
Wene, think; Wenes, thinkest;
Wend, Wende, thought; S.
Wepe, wept, weeping.
Wer, Were, Werie, defend, fight
for ; rescue, protect ; where.
Were, war, 7vear.
Werne, warn, prohibit.
Werr, worse.
"Weny, fight, make war, or battle.
Wet, what.
Wete, knozei; Wetyn, knoum ; S.
Weved, waved.
Wha-sum, whosoever. Ware-
sum, wheresoever. What-sum,
whatsoever.
Whate, hot.
Wher, Wherein, tuere.
Whesch, washed (their hands).
Whide-war, yjrr and near.
White the non, do not torment
thyself.
Whose, whoso.
'Whychyd, bewitcJied.
Whyght. See Wight.
Whythe, wight.
Wight, strong, powerful; person.
^Vightly, speedily, boldly, re-
solutely.
Wiht, a blo7ci.
WW, Wike, 7i'eek.
Willcs, 7i'ill, desire.
^^'is, shoiv me, take me.
Wist, knew.
Wit, Wite, learn, kno7t<, blame.
Withsugge, gainsaid.
Wittes, setise, wisdom.
Wive, wife.
Wobigane, woe-begone.
Wode, tnad.
Wode-schawe, coppice.
Wogh, wrojigl
Wolde, old.
Wolte, wilt thou ?
Won. Good won, often, many
times ; A worldly won, a
^i'orshipfu I mansion-house.
Wonde, wait, stay, desist from,
refused, withstood.
Wone, delay. Woned, wont ;
divelled, lived. Wones,
palaces, houses, dwellings.
Wo\\\c, dwell. Wons, lives,
resides. Won, Woon, Won-
yng, dwelling, residence, lodg-
ing.
Woodwale, the woodpecker.
Word, Worde. See Ord and
ende. Wordes, worthies,
things of worth. ^^^ordyIye,
worthily.
Worth, what, it'roth, were, was.
j Worth est, 7vert.
I Woso, whoso.
\ Wottyst, knotvest.
Wowe, wall or window.
j Woxyn, 7vaxe7i.
^Vrake, wreaked, revenged.
I Chaucer has ywrake in the
same sense.
I Wrangdome, wrong.
j Wrecche, wrack, mischief ;wretch,
j caitif.
"Wrcche, wretched, wretch.
Glossary.
Ill
Wreke, wreak, rroenge. Wroken,
revenged.
Wreth, Wrethe, Wreththe, re-
venge, wrath, harm, mischief.
Wreye, Wrye, betray. Wreyede,
betrayed.
Wroght, wroth.
Wrothe hele, Wrothherheyle,
tnalediction.
'Wrthe, were.
^Vryt, writing, letter.
Wymmanne, wotnen.
Wyck, wicked.
Wylde of redd, regardless of
counsel.
Wyght, whit.
Wyn, 7vin, obtain.
Wys, advisest. Wyst, knew.
Wvste, wistest, knew.
W'yt. See Wit.
Wyte, know, blame.
Wyth, wight, strong.
Wytherlyng, ^^z'^/-5'^r>', enemy, S.
Wyttyrly, utterly, thoroughly.
Ya, Yaa, yes.
Yaf, gave.
Yalde, yielded, surrendered.
Yapys, japes, jests.
Yar, Yare, ready, S.
Yate, gate.
Ybake, baked.
Ybe, been.
Ybore, born.
Ychcim, /am. Ychulle, / shall
or will.
Yclepte, embraced.
Yede, went.
Yef, //.
Yelde, yield, reward, recompense.
Yelp, outcry, boast.
Yeme, take care of. Yemed,
goverfted.
Yen, eyes.
Yend, Yent, through.
Yeode, 7vent.
Yerly, early.
Yern, eager, eagerly, earnest.
Yeme, earn, desire, wish, S.
Yeve, give.
Yfere, compafiions.
Ygelt, gilded, gilt.
Yghen, eyes.
Yharneysyth, harfiessed.
Ying, young.
Ylerde, learned.
Yleste, lasted.
Yleve, believe.
Ylome, lately.
Ylore, lost.
Ylyche, alike.
Ylythe, listen.
Yment, meant, intended, de-
signed.
Ympe-tre, grafted tree.
Ymone, co?npanion ?
Ynome, taken.
Ynowe, enough.
Yode, went.
Yolde, yielded, recompetised.
Yoly, folly.
Yore, Yorne, heretofore, for-
merly, S.
Yowle, Christmas.
Yoye, joy.
Ypocrasse, hippocras.
Yrke, weary.
Yre, iroti.
Yrels, earls.
Yrest, rested.
Yrthe, earth.
Yse, sea.
Yschent, degraded, ashamed.
Yslawe, slain.
Yswowe, in a swoon.
Yteld, coloitred, painted, dyed, S.
Ytynt, lost.
Yuly, handsome, beautiful. In
the edition of "Drunken
Barnaby's Four Journies to
the North of England,"
printed at London in 1723,
that facetious traveller says : —
"Thence to Worton; being lighted
I was solemnly invited
By a captain's wife most yewly ;"'
212
Glossary.
though it must be confessed
that the original (about 1640)
has not yewly, but vcivlie,
unless the tail of the "y" has
been broken off at the press.
Yume. See Yern.
Yurney, journey.
Yvere, Yvore, ivory.
Ywent, gone, turned.
Ywime, succeed.
Yylde, yield.
Printed by E. 6^" G. Goldsmid, Edinburgh.
^
^
.JAN 2 7 19/5
PLEASE DO NOT REMOVE
CARDS OR SLIPS FROM THIS POCKET
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO LIBRARY
FR Ritson, Joseph
2064. Ancient English metrical
R58 romances
1884.
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